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Eosinophilic Colitis

At GastroDoxs in Houston, Dr. Scott offers expert diagnosis and treatment for eosinophilic colitis, a rare inflammatory condition of the colon driven by excess eosinophils. Through evidence-based personalized care plans-covering diet, medications, and advanced endoscopy-patients regain comfort and digestive well-being.

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Texas Medical Board
Harris County Medical Society
American College of Gastroenterology
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Memorial hermann
Houston Methodist leading Medicine
HCA Houston Healthcare
Scott Liu

About the Expert

Dr. Scott Liu, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with over six years of experience and a background in military medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, completed his Internal Medicine residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and finished his Gastroenterology fellowship through the National Capital Consortium. Dr. Liu provides comprehensive care for a broad range of digestive conditions, including abdominal pain, acid reflux, liver disease, chronic diarrhea, and colon cancer screening. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and is known for his disciplined, patient-focused approach and clear communication.

Common Causes and Risk Factors

  • Food allergies (eggs, dairy, soy)
  • Family history of allergies
  • Environmental triggers (dust, pollen, mold)
  • Immune system dysfunction
  • Allergic diseases (asthma, eczema)

Signs and Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain or cramps
  • Persistent or recurrent diarrhea
  • Blood or mucus in the stool
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue or loss of appetite

How Dr. Scott Diagnoses This Condition?

Dr. Scott uses a step-by-step approach:

Medical History and Physical Exam

He reviews your history of epigastric pain, bowel habits, food intake and any family or personal allergy background.

Blood Tests

A complete blood count checks for peripheral eosinophilia. Allergy panels may be added to identify food or environmental triggers.

Endoscopic Evaluation with Biopsy

  • Upper endoscopy to assess epigastric discomfort and rule out other causes.
  • Colonoscopy to inspect the colon lining and obtain tissue samples.
  • Biopsies confirm eosinophil infiltration and exclude Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Allergy Testing (If Needed)

Skin‐prick or blood IgE testing pinpoints specific allergens, guiding dietary elimination or immunotherapy.

Dr. Scott
Treatment

Our Team offers a full range of care for eosinophilic colitis.

1. Diet and Lifestyle Modifications

  • Individualized elimination diet to identify and remove trigger foods (dairy, eggs, soy, wheat)
  • Reintroduction protocol: add foods back one at a time to monitor symptoms
  • Probiotic recommendations to support gut health and reduce inflammation

2. Medications

  • Steroids (e.g., budesonide) to calm colon swelling and pain
  • Allergy-focused therapies to lower eosinophil activity
  • Biologic agents for severe or treatment-resistant cases

3. Minimally Invasive or Advanced Procedures

  • Endoscopic intervention in our in-house suite for rapid symptom relief
  • Colonoscopy with targeted biopsies to monitor eosinophil levels
  • Access to clinical trials and emerging therapies for refractory disease
Scott Liu

About the Expert

Dr. Scott Liu, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with over six years of experience and a background in military medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, completed his Internal Medicine residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and finished his Gastroenterology fellowship through the National Capital Consortium. Dr. Liu provides comprehensive care for a broad range of digestive conditions, including abdominal pain, acid reflux, liver disease, chronic diarrhea, and colon cancer screening. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and is known for his disciplined, patient-focused approach and clear communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is eosinophilic colitis different from ulcerative colitis?

Eosinophilic colitis is marked by an abnormal buildup of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the colon lining, whereas ulcerative colitis involves continuous inflammation and ulcer formation throughout the colon.

How rare is this condition?

It affects fewer than 1 in 100,000 people and can occur at any age, though it's more common in infants and young adults.

What treatments are used?

Treatment plans often include an elimination diet to identify food triggers, corticosteroids (like budesonide) to reduce inflammation, allergy medications to lower eosinophil activity, and biologic therapies in severe or treatment-resistant cases.

Can diet alone fix it?

Some patients achieve symptom relief through a tailored elimination diet, but many require medications-especially if inflammation is severe or widespread.

How fast will I feel better?

Most people notice symptom improvement within 2 to 4 weeks of starting diet modifications and/or medication, though individual response times may vary.

Are steroids safe long-term?

Dr. Scott prescribes the lowest effective steroid dose and often combines other therapies to minimize long-term steroid use and reduce potential side effects.

Is surgery needed?

Surgery is rarely required and is only considered for patients who do not respond to dietary changes, medications, or endoscopic interventions.

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