What Are Eosinophilic Disorders?
Here is a description from APFED's website.
Eosinophil Associated Disorders
FACT SHEET
A group of uncommon chronic illnesses, eosinophil (E-o-'si-n-o-"fil) associated disorders, are rapidly
emerging as a healthcare problem worldwide. Yet, many patients suffering from these disorders go
undiagnosed for years due to a lack of information or awareness of these diseases.
What is an Eosinophil?
A type of white blood cell associated with allergies, parasites, and cancers
What are Eosinophil Associated Disorders?
High numbers of eosinophils accumulate in body tissues causing inflammation and damage
Classified by body tissue where eosinophils accumulate
Diagnosed and monitored by tissue biopsies
Chronic diseases requiring long term treatment, with no known cure
Debilitating diseases leading to missed work, school, social outings
Delays in diagnosis are common
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Causes inflammation and damage to the esophagus, affecting the ability to eat
Estimated prevalence of more than 1 per 2000
Increase in new cases (2 – 10 fold) over the past 10 years
Patients may depend on steroids or medical nutrition therapy through a feeding tube
Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EGE), and Eosinophilic Gastritis (EG)
Causes inflammation and damage to the stomach and/or small intestine, often misdiagnosed
Estimated prevalence of EGE and EC combined is 1 per 3500
Causes severe abdominal pain, forceful vomiting and/or diarrhea
Treatment may involve a limited diet, feeding tube and/ or steroids
Eosinophilic Colitis (EC)
Causes inflammation and damage to the large intestine (colon)
Often misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD) or Crohn’s disease
Patients may require restricted diet therapy, elemental formula or chronic steroids
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)
Diagnosed by very high numbers of eosinophils in the blood and tissue
Causes potentially fatal damage to one or more organs in the body (heart, lungs, gut, skin)
Churg-Strauss Syndrome (CSS)
Eosinophils cause damage to small to medium blood vessels (vasculitis)
Patient may initially be diagnosed with severe asthma
Causes potentially fatal lung, heart, brain or gastrointestinal damage
Estimated to be 60-80 CSS cases/million asthmatics/year
What is the Role of APFED?
501(c)3 non-profit lay advocacy organization for those living with eosinophilic disorders
Mission: Awareness, Education, Support and Research
Raise funds for research through a peer-reviewed grant program
Eosinophil Associated Disorders
FACT SHEET
A group of uncommon chronic illnesses, eosinophil (E-o-'si-n-o-"fil) associated disorders, are rapidly
emerging as a healthcare problem worldwide. Yet, many patients suffering from these disorders go
undiagnosed for years due to a lack of information or awareness of these diseases.
What is an Eosinophil?
A type of white blood cell associated with allergies, parasites, and cancers
What are Eosinophil Associated Disorders?
High numbers of eosinophils accumulate in body tissues causing inflammation and damage
Classified by body tissue where eosinophils accumulate
Diagnosed and monitored by tissue biopsies
Chronic diseases requiring long term treatment, with no known cure
Debilitating diseases leading to missed work, school, social outings
Delays in diagnosis are common
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Causes inflammation and damage to the esophagus, affecting the ability to eat
Estimated prevalence of more than 1 per 2000
Increase in new cases (2 – 10 fold) over the past 10 years
Patients may depend on steroids or medical nutrition therapy through a feeding tube
Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EGE), and Eosinophilic Gastritis (EG)
Causes inflammation and damage to the stomach and/or small intestine, often misdiagnosed
Estimated prevalence of EGE and EC combined is 1 per 3500
Causes severe abdominal pain, forceful vomiting and/or diarrhea
Treatment may involve a limited diet, feeding tube and/ or steroids
Eosinophilic Colitis (EC)
Causes inflammation and damage to the large intestine (colon)
Often misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD) or Crohn’s disease
Patients may require restricted diet therapy, elemental formula or chronic steroids
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)
Diagnosed by very high numbers of eosinophils in the blood and tissue
Causes potentially fatal damage to one or more organs in the body (heart, lungs, gut, skin)
Churg-Strauss Syndrome (CSS)
Eosinophils cause damage to small to medium blood vessels (vasculitis)
Patient may initially be diagnosed with severe asthma
Causes potentially fatal lung, heart, brain or gastrointestinal damage
Estimated to be 60-80 CSS cases/million asthmatics/year
What is the Role of APFED?
501(c)3 non-profit lay advocacy organization for those living with eosinophilic disorders
Mission: Awareness, Education, Support and Research
Raise funds for research through a peer-reviewed grant program
