What are Eosinophilic Disorders?

The following information was taken from the website for the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED).  For more detailed information, you can visit their website, apfed.org.

What is EGID?
A growing number of children and adults suffer from a chronic and complex group of disorders described as Eosinophilic (ee-oh-sin-oh-fill-ick) Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID). These disorders are characterized by having above normal amounts of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, in one or more specific places anywhere in the digestive system. EGID is further subdivided into organ-specific diagnosis. For example, Eosinophilic Gastritis means eosinophils infiltrating the stomach. "itis" means inflammation. While visual inflammation is not always present, inflammation may be apparent under the microscope.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE): high numbers of eosinophils occurring in the esophagus.    Eosinophilic Gastritis (EG): high numbers of eosinophils in the stomach.Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EGE): affects the stomach and small intestine.
Eosinophilic Colitis (EC): describes the occurrence of high numbers of eosinophils in the large intestine.

EGIDs affect roughly 1:2000 and there is no known cure. Diagnosis is made through endoscopy with biopsies to confirm positive pathology. Treatments vary and can include the following: medication (i.e. steroids, acid reduction), elimination diet (NO food in which allergy testing is positive), food trials, elemental formula diet orally or via feeding tube (proteins are scientifically broken down to amino acids and fats, sugars, vitamins are added).

Symptoms vary widely, depending on the area affected.
Symptoms include:• Nausea or Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Failure to thrive (poor growth or weight loss)
• Abdominal or chest pain
• Reflux that does not respond to usual therapy (which includes proton pump inhibitors, a medicine which stops acid production)
• Dysphagia (Difficulty swallowing)
• Food impactions (food gets stuck in the throat)
• Gastroparesis (Delayed emptying of the stomach)
• Anorexia (poor appetite)
• Bloating
• Anemia
• Blood in the stool
• Malnutrition
• Difficulty sleeping

Since none of these symptoms are specific for EGID, and many occur at times in healthy children or adults, the diagnosis is generally sought only after the symptoms have failed to resolve. Eosinophilic disorders can mimic the symptoms of other diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and reflux, among others.