Our gastrointestinal (GI) system plays an important role in each person’s well being. When our GI tract is not functioning properly or causing us pain, going about our daily activities can be challenging. At Columbia Allergy, our goal is to help manage your chronic gastrointestinal problems for you to get back to the things you love. Chronic GI conditions that are commonly treated at Columbia Allergy include: EOE, chronic diarrhea, and unexplained abdominal pain.
EOE
Eosinophilic esophagitis, commonly referred to as EOE, is a chronic inflammatory condition, in which eosinophils invade the tissue in your esophagus. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that helps to fight disease in your body. In the case of EOE, your eosinophils try to fight off something in your esophagus that your body sees as foreign. Symptoms can often be triggered by food allergies and can include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Food getting stuck in your upper GI tract
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Eosinophilic esophagitis is diagnosed with the use of an endoscopy, where a scope is used to see the tissue of the esophagus and take a sample to confirm that there are eosinophils in the tissue. Traditionally, EOE was managed with elimination diets and medications. Our specialists at Columbia Allergy can also offer treatments like sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) so that you can enjoy the foods you like without experiencing the symptoms!
Chronic Diarrhea
If you are experiencing diarrhea that is lasting more than 2 weeks, you may be suffering from chronic diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea can be very uncomfortable, embarrassing, and can make it difficult to attend school or work. The most frequent causes of chronic diarrhea include: irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel disease, medications and dietary factors such as food allergies.
At Columbia Allergy, we can provide food allergy testing to find the cause of your chronic diarrhea. Once we have the results of your allergy tests, we can offer allergy desensitization through sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and oral immunotherapy (OIT) to prevent your body from developing chronic diarrhea when you eat those foods.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain without a known cause can be very uncomfortable and sometimes scary. Abdominal pain can often be a result of swelling in the GI tract due to a food allergy or intolerance. The pain may occur alone or be accompanied by symptoms such as gas, bloating, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. Chronic episodes of abdominal pain can make it very challenging to go to work or school and can lead to many visits to the doctor’s office.
At Columbia Allergy, we can provide allergy testing through skin prick or laboratory tests to determine the cause of your frequent episodes abdominal pain. Once we have the results of your allergy tests, our specialists can offer allergy desensitization through sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and oral immunotherapy (OIT) to prevent your body from developing chronic abdominal when you eat those foods.
If you are suffering from chronic GI problems such as EOE, chronic diarrhea, or abdominal pain, call your nearest location or schedule an appointment online today!
