BackgroundEosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly common cause of dysphagia in both children and adults, as well as one of the most prevalent oesophageal diseases with a significant impact on physical health and quality of life. We have provided a single comprehensive guideline for both paediatric and adult gastroenterologists on current best practice for the evaluation and management of EoE.MethodsThe Oesophageal Section of the British Society of Gastroenterology was commissioned by the Clinical Standards Service Committee to develop these guidelines. The Guideline Development Group included adult and paediatric gastroenterologists, surgeons, dietitians, allergists, pathologists and patient representatives. The Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes process was used to generate questions for a systematic review of the evidence. Published evidence was reviewed and updated to June 2021. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to assess the evidence and make recommendations. Two rounds of voting were held to assess the level of agreement and the strength of recommendations, with 80% consensus required for acceptance.ResultsFifty-seven statements on EoE presentation, diagnosis, investigation, management and complications were produced with further statements created on areas for future research.ConclusionsThese comprehensive adult and paediatric guidelines of the British Society of Gastroenterology and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition are based on evidence and expert consensus from a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals, including patient advocates and patient support groups, to help clinicians with the management patients with EoE and its complications.

Summary Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is a chronic disease associated with significant morbidity that can result in permanent fibrosis and stricture formation. Given the complexity, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended to manage these patients. In the majority of children with EoE not responsive to proton‐pump inhibitor (PPI), inflammation is driven by sensitivity to foods and treatment with an elimination diet can be effective. Foods most commonly identified to trigger EoE in children are milk and wheat, but egg, soy, meats and grains can also be triggers. Foods can be eliminated using a step‐down or step‐up approach. If the goal is to achieve quick remission, elemental diet or six food elimination diets are the most effective. A step‐up approach starting from a 1‐2 food elimination diet and increasing the number of foods based on a personalized dietary approach is recommended if the goal is to achieve remission using the least number of endoscopies and with increased acceptability to the patient. Children with EoE on elimination diets require frequent monitoring of growth and nutrition, as well as screening for symptoms of EoE, allergy and mindfulness regarding psychosocial impact of chronic disease on the family and child. Current research focused on tools to select patients who mostly will benefit from dietary treatment, identify relevant food allergens, obtain oesophageal tissue non‐invasively and induce tolerance will greatly improve the treatment of EoE.

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The intervention will be tested ultimately in a multicentre randomized controlled trial to determine whether it can reduce the proportion of older women who delay their presentation and thereby save lives.