Researchers in Colombia studied 286 people with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a condition where the throat becomes inflamed and swollen. They compared 143 children with 143 adults to see how the disease showed up differently in each group. Adults noticed problems earlier and had more trouble swallowing, while children were more likely to lose weight. Doctors also treated kids and adults differently, using different medicines based on age. This study shows that this throat condition isn’t one-size-fits-all—doctors need to think about whether their patient is a child or adult when deciding on treatment.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How eosinophilic esophagitis (a swelling disease of the food tube) shows up differently in children versus adults, and how doctors treat each group differently
  • Who participated: 286 patients from multiple hospitals in Colombia: 143 children and 143 adults, with about 62% being male
  • Key finding: Adults noticed their symptoms and got diagnosed faster (42% within 6 months vs. 22.8% of children), had more trouble swallowing, and experienced food getting stuck. Children were more likely to lose weight. Doctors gave adults more acid-reducing medicines and steroids.
  • What it means for you: If you or your child has trouble swallowing or food getting stuck, doctors should consider this condition. Treatment plans should be different for kids versus adults. Talk to your doctor about which treatment approach is best for your specific situation.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at two groups of people at the same point in time and compared them. They collected information from 143 children and 143 adults with eosinophilic esophagitis from multiple hospitals across Colombia. Researchers gathered data about when symptoms started, what symptoms people experienced, and what medicines doctors prescribed. They then compared the two age groups to find patterns and differences.

The researchers looked at several important areas: when people first noticed problems, what symptoms they had, how much weight they lost, and what treatments doctors gave them. By comparing children and adults side-by-side, they could see if the disease behaves differently depending on age.

This study design is useful because it shows real-world patterns in how doctors treat patients in actual hospitals. By comparing children and adults at the same time, researchers can spot important differences in how the disease presents and how it’s managed. This helps doctors understand that they may need different approaches for different age groups.

This study has good points and some limitations. The strength is that it included a decent number of patients (286 total) from multiple hospitals, which makes the findings more reliable than a single hospital study. The researchers carefully compared equal numbers of children and adults (143 each), which makes the comparison fair. However, because this is a snapshot study rather than following people over time, we can’t be completely sure about cause-and-effect. Also, this data is from Colombia, so results might be slightly different in other countries.

What the Results Show

Adults got diagnosed much faster than children. About 42% of adults saw a doctor within 6 months of symptoms starting, compared to only 23% of children. This suggests adults recognize their symptoms sooner or seek help more quickly.

The symptoms were quite different between age groups. Adults had much more trouble swallowing (70% of adults vs. 32% of children) and experienced food getting stuck in their throat more often (21% of adults vs. 3% of children). However, children were much more likely to lose weight (26% of children vs. 4% of adults), which suggests children’s bodies were affected differently by the disease.

Treatment approaches also differed significantly. Adults received acid-reducing medicines called proton pump inhibitors much more often (87% of adults vs. 41% of children). Adults also got steroid sprays more frequently (29% of adults vs. 16% of children). Interestingly, very few people in either group received strong systemic steroids (pills or injections), with less than 3% in each group receiving them.

Dietary treatment (avoiding certain foods) was used about equally in both groups (40% of adults vs. 33% of children), suggesting this approach is considered important regardless of age. The study also found that males made up about 62% of all patients, indicating the disease may be slightly more common in males. The researchers noted that allergic history differed between groups, though specific details weren’t emphasized in the main findings.

This study adds important information about how eosinophilic esophagitis appears differently in children versus adults. Previous research has shown this condition is becoming more common worldwide, but few studies have directly compared how it shows up in different age groups within the same country. This Colombian study fills that gap and suggests that treatment practices vary based on age, which aligns with what some other research has suggested but provides specific evidence from a Latin American population.

This study has several important limitations to consider. First, it’s a snapshot in time, so researchers couldn’t follow patients over months or years to see how the disease progresses. Second, the study only included patients from Colombia, so results might be different in other countries with different healthcare systems or populations. Third, the study didn’t explain why doctors made different treatment choices for children versus adults—it just showed that they did. Finally, the study couldn’t determine if certain treatments worked better than others because it didn’t follow patients to see their outcomes.

The Bottom Line

If you have persistent trouble swallowing or food getting stuck, ask your doctor about eosinophilic esophagitis as a possible cause. If you’re an adult, expect your doctor might recommend acid-reducing medicines. If you’re a parent of a child with these symptoms, watch for weight loss as a warning sign. Work with your doctor to develop an age-appropriate treatment plan. These recommendations are based on observational evidence showing what doctors currently do, not proof that one approach is definitely better than another.

This research matters most for people experiencing swallowing problems, parents of children with digestive issues, and gastroenterologists (digestive system doctors). It’s particularly relevant for people in Latin America where this study was conducted, though the findings may apply more broadly. People with known food allergies should be aware of this condition. Healthcare providers should use this to understand that treatment approaches may need to differ between children and adults.

If you start treatment, you might notice improvements in swallowing within weeks to months, though this study didn’t track how quickly people improved. Weight loss in children might stabilize once treatment begins, but again, this study didn’t measure recovery time. Talk to your doctor about realistic timelines for your specific situation.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track swallowing difficulty on a scale of 1-10 daily, note any episodes of food getting stuck, and record weight weekly. Also log which foods trigger symptoms and which medicines you’re taking.
  • Use the app to identify trigger foods and avoid them. Set reminders to take prescribed medicines consistently. Log meals and symptoms to find patterns. Share this data with your doctor at appointments to help adjust treatment.
  • Create a long-term symptom diary tracking swallowing ease, food incidents, weight trends, and medicine adherence. Review monthly patterns with your healthcare provider. If you’re a parent, track your child’s weight and appetite changes. Adjust dietary restrictions based on what the app shows triggers symptoms.

This study describes patterns in how eosinophilic esophagitis appears and is treated in Colombia but does not prove which treatments work best. If you or your child experience persistent swallowing problems, food getting stuck, unexplained weight loss, or chest pain, consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. Do not start, stop, or change any medications without medical guidance. This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Results from this Colombian study may not apply exactly to all populations or healthcare systems.