Study Links Rare Gut Condition to Anaphylaxis Misdiagnosis
Two studies presented at a US allergy meeting tie eosinophilic oesophagitis to symptoms often mistaken for anaphylaxis.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Allergies
Researchers presented two studies at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. One found that none of 29 adults referred for suspected anaphylaxis tested positive for IgE-mediated anaphylaxis, while samples from their oesophagus lining tested positive for eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE).
Why it matters
EoE is a rare condition in which eosinophils build up in the oesophagus, and its symptoms can resemble a severe allergic reaction, raising the possibility that some cases are missed or misidentified. Health records analysis suggests diagnoses are rising sharply, which may signal either greater awareness or a growing burden, though the cause of the condition has not been clearly identified.
Health records covering more than 300 million people in the US identified over 500,000 people living with EoE, and the condition is thought to affect about 40 in every 100,000 people. Untreated EoE raises the risk of oesophageal narrowing by 9 per cent each year, and the underlying cause remains unclear.
The players
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
A professional medical society of allergists and immunologists that hosts an annual scientific meeting where clinical research is presented.
Georgetown University
A private research university in Washington, DC, where the lead researcher of the first study is based.
University of Cincinnati
A public research university in Ohio, where the lead researcher of the second study is based.
The details
The first study examined 29 adults referred to a specialist for suspected anaphylaxis, and samples taken from the lining of their oesophagus tested positive for EoE. The second study analysed health records and found men were more likely to develop the condition than women. EoE can cause swelling, difficulty swallowing, drooling and food becoming stuck in the throat.
Timeline
2009: Start of the period in which US EoE diagnoses rose about sevenfold.
November 12, 2026: Studies presented at the allergy meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
Big Picture
The findings were presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting, extending that venue's allergy research to an esophageal condition that can mimic anaphylaxis. They add to a body of work seeking to separate IgE-mediated food reactions from non-allergic disorders in patients who present with similar symptoms.
People with persistent swallowing difficulty, swelling, or food sticking in the throat may benefit from raising EoE with a clinician, especially if they have had repeated suspected allergic reactions without a confirmed IgE-mediated cause. Because the condition has no known cure, early recognition is the main way to limit the risk of oesophageal narrowing.
The takeaway
Symptoms that look like an allergic emergency are not always allergic, so persistent swallowing problems deserve a check for EoE even when anaphylaxis tests come back negative.
Further reading
For background on related conditions, explore more in our Allergies section.
