Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Accurate diagnosis, individualized treatment, and the long-term partnership EoE deserves.
Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, immune-driven condition where the esophagus becomes inflamed in response to food triggers. It often hides behind reflux, picky eating, or 'food getting stuck.'
Dr. Mendez diagnoses EoE with upper endoscopy and biopsy, then builds a long-term plan around dietary therapy, medication, and careful monitoring, with families fully in the loop.
Signs and symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing or food getting stuck
- Slow eating, drinking lots of liquid with meals
- Refusing textures or only eating soft foods
- Persistent reflux or chest pain not responding to acid suppression
- Vomiting or regurgitation
- Poor weight gain or growth concerns
- A history of food allergies, asthma, or eczema
- Episodes of food impaction needing emergency care
How we treat it
- Upper endoscopy with biopsy, performed personally by Dr. Mendez, to confirm the diagnosis.
- Discussion of all three primary treatment paths: dietary elimination, topical steroids, and biologic therapy.
- Coordination with a pediatric dietitian when a structured elimination diet is the right fit.
- Repeat endoscopy at the right intervals to confirm healing, not just symptom relief.
- Long-term follow-up to adjust treatment as your child grows.
When to call a pediatric GI
- Food impaction or food repeatedly getting stuck.
- Reflux symptoms not improving on acid suppression.
- Strong selective eating in a child with allergic conditions.
- Vomiting, regurgitation, or chest pain at meals.
- A prior EoE diagnosis where you want a second opinion or a structured long-term plan.
Frequently asked
Is EoE a food allergy?
It is an immune response to specific food proteins, but it does not show up on traditional allergy testing. Diagnosis relies on endoscopy with biopsy, and treatment focuses on identifying triggers over time.
Will my child have to stay on a strict diet forever?
Not always. Some families do best on diet, others on medication, and many use a combination. We tailor the plan to your child's biology, lifestyle, and family preferences.
How often is repeat endoscopy needed?
EoE is one of the conditions where symptoms do not always match what is happening in the esophagus. We do scheduled scopes after treatment changes to confirm true healing, then space them out.
Ready to talk it through?
Concierge access means we have the time to listen, evaluate carefully, and stay with your family through every step.