Allergies and Acid Reflux: Understanding the Connection

Acid reflux occurs when the acidic fluids of the stomach flow back into the esophagus, causing discomfort and irritation. Many people experience heartburn or acid reflux on occasion. However, chronic acid reflux may be a sign of eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition caused by allergies.

Symptoms

• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) symptoms include regurgitation, vomiting, chest pain, heartburn and dysphagia.

Source

• EE is caused by a sensitivity or allergy to food products such as milk, soy, eggs, wheat, nuts and fish. Pollen may be another source of the allergic reaction.

Diagnosis

• EE requires a referral to a gastroenterologist and an allergy medical specialist. The remarkable feature of EE is the presence of eosinophils, or white blood cells, in the esophagus. Eosinophils become active when you have certain allergic diseases, infections and other medical conditions.

Treatment

• The main treatment for EE is diet and elimination of suspected foods and allergens. Sometimes steroids are used to decrease the inflammation.

Prevalence

• According to physicians and researchers, incidences of EE are on the rise, with a prevalence rate of one in 2000.