Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program

Living with an eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) can be difficult, especially for kids. The gastrointestinal experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado’s nationally ranked Digestive Health Institute have the knowledge, experience and compassion to treat infants, children and teens living with these complex, lifelong conditions.

What are EGIDs?

EGIDs are a group of diseases characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms that can include swallowing problems, vomiting, acid-reflux, food impaction (food getting stuck in the digestive tract), abdominal pain, diarrhea, slow growth and bleeding. Eosinophils (pronounced “e-o-sin-o-fils”) are a type of white blood cell often associated with allergies, including irritation from certain foods. When a child has an EGID, it means that eosinophils are building up in the lining of their digestive system, which can cause inflammation (swelling) and many uncomfortable symptoms. EGIDs are becoming more common, but doctors do not fully understand why.

EGIDs include a number of conditions. The type depends on where in the gastrointestinal tract the disease is centered. EGIDs include:

• Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which primarily affects the esophagus and is the most common EGID
• Eosinophilic gastritis (EG), which primarily affects the stomach
• Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE), which affects both the stomach and the small intestine
• Eosinophilic colitis (EC), which affects the large intestine

The pediatric gastroenterology team at Children’s Colorado includes experts in this field who have been treating and researching EGIDs in children for more than .

EGID services for kids

Our goal is to improve the quality of life for patients and families affected by EGIDs. We offer:

• Complete evaluation for kids who have been diagnosed as well as those with a suspected EGID
• Diagnostic testing designed for kids, including blood work, endoscopy, esophageal string testing, allergy testing and imaging
• Education and support for the patient and family
• Follow-up care via phone, in-person appointments and, in some circumstances, telemedicine
• Assistance coordinating appointments for families traveling out of state to our hospital in Aurora, Colorado

EGID treatment for children and teens

The type of treatment we recommend varies based on the type of EGID and its severity. Children’s Colorado offers specialized, comprehensive treatment for EGIDs including medications and recommendations and support for food elimination diets. If needed, we also provide medical procedures like interventional endoscopy and dilation.

Because EGIDs are a chronic (long-lasting) condition, it may take time to find the right treatment for your child. We work closely with families to determine the best options for medication and dietary changes, depending on the child’s needs and the family’s preferences. We consider the family to be the most important member of a child’s care team and involve you in all decisions regarding your child’s care.

Watch the video below to see how we helped Kylah and her family find the right treatment plan. Learn more about our approach to EoE treatment.

Why choose Children’s Colorado to treat EGIDs in kids?

As a leader in the diagnosis, treatment and research of pediatric EGIDs, our Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program proudly provides comprehensive care for patients from across the U.S. and around the world.

We offer the most advanced technology and treatments available and a caring and supportive environment to help kids living with EGIDs. Our Program is also one of the few multidisciplinary programs in the entire country. Multidisciplinary care means that a team of experts from multiple medical specialties work together to address the full scope of your child’s health – from allergies to mental health to nutrition and beyond. Program coordinators are also available to ensure that your child’s visit is thorough and individualized.

Our pediatric specialists have advanced training and experience both in their field and in caring for kids. Having a team of specialists with different expertise gives your child the best and most complete care possible. Our multidisciplinary EGID team includes:

• Board-certified pediatric gastroenterologists who specialize in EGIDs
• Board-certified pediatric allergists who specialize in EGIDs
• Occupational and speech therapists who specialize in feeding problems associated with EGIDs
• Psychologists who support patients throughout diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle changes for these conditions
• Registered dietitians who help families ensure their children are getting enough nutrients, even on a restricted diet
• Nurses with expertise in caring for children and families with EGIDs
• Child life specialistswho can help your child feel more comfortable in the hospital setting and support them throughout procedures

Learn more about the importance of multidisciplinary care for kids and how we provide timesaving, convenient care in one visit through our Multidisciplinary Clinic.

Innovative and advanced procedures for EGIDs

As an academic research institution, Children’s Colorado conducts research studies and promotes innovative techniques and technologies to improve the future for all kids with EGIDs. This means our patients have access to the very best care the medical field has to offer and treatments that may not be available elsewhere.

Our Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Disease Program has led the way in innovating new tests and procedures to improve the quality of life for kids living with EGIDs. One of the tests invented here is the transnasal endoscopy, a procedure that allows patients to receive through the nose and . This means no fasting, less preparation for the procedure, and getting back to daily life so much faster. Learn more about transnasal endoscopy and what a difference it made for our patient Haylie’s care.

Another groundbreaking innovation is the esophageal string test, a minimally invasive test that allows doctors to measure eosinophil counts to both diagnose and monitor EoE. Instead of an endoscopy, the string test takes just one hour and doesn’t require fasting and going under anesthesia. By simply swallowing a capsule attached to a string and then relaxing for an hour with books, games or a television show, our experts get the information they need to send to our laboratory for processing. Watch the video below to learn about the cutting-edge and easy process from beginning to end.

In addition to inventing new tests and procedures, we have also pioneered the use of the endoluminal functional lumen probe (EndoFLIP) to study esophageal function in kids with EoE.

Learn more about digestive health research at Children’s Colorado.