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Essay about Pathophysiology Repeort on Eosinophilic Esophagitis

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A relatively new diagnosis in the medical field is Eosinophilc Esophagitis. This disease has emerged all around the world and became a more common diagnosis beginning in the 2000’s. According to doctors at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 1-4 in 10,000 people live with this disease (Cincinnati, 2012, p. 1). Food allergies often accompany this disease, which may be why it is becoming better known. The pathophysiology behind Eosinophilic Esophagitis is extensive, and includes the parts of the body that are effected, normal function, symptoms and cause of symptoms, diagnosis, physiology, and treatment. Eosinophilic Esophagitis is a disease that affects the esophagus. Other parts of the gastrointestinal tract can also …show more content…

When a human’s body is normal and not affected by this disease, the esophagus functions much differently. While many people with EE have a narrow esophagus, the normal human esophagus approximately two to three centimeters in diameter. The lining of the esophagus in a normal human being is also thick, not damaged and thinned like that of someone with EE. Acid reflux, a common characteristic of Eosinophic Esophagitis, can occur occasionally, without medical reasoning, in someone without EE. The difference between someone with EE and the average person is the frequency of acid reflux. The average person rarely has reflux. When someone is healthy, the lower esophageal sphincter keeps food that is in the stomach from coming back up. In someone with EE, this sphincter may not function properly due to tissue damage and erosion. Peristalsis occurs normally in a healthy human being without any problems. This is the movement of food by muscle contractions from the esophagus through to the rectum. When a human is healthy, the esophagus functions normally, moving food from the mouth to the stomach without any holdups, blockages, or reflux. There are many signs and symptoms that someone may have if they live with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. One of the most predominant symptoms of EE is reflux. The reflux experienced in someone with EE will not respond to therapy

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