The Rise and Rise of Eosinophilic Gut Diseases Including Eosinophilic Esophagitis Is Probably Not Explained by the Disappearance of Helicobacter pylori, so Who or What's to Blame?

Abstract

A dramatic increase in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and atopic disease and a dramatic decline in Helicobacter pylori infection has been observed in the last few decades. Previously, it was speculated that the immune response to H. pylori may protect against allergic diseases including EoE, but this study by Molina-Infante et al. shows no clear relationship, and suggests that any correlation is not causal. In truth it is likely that a combination of many factors, including a changing microbiome with increasing hygiene and alterations in early life such as antibiotic exposure, changing diet and other lifestyle factors drive increasing atopic diseases including food allergies and EoE.