Wednesday, September 29, 2010

What is EE?

Eosinophilic (ee oh sin oh fill ick) disorders occur when the body reacts to trigger(s) by creating too many white blood cells (eosinophils) which hang out in inappropriate places creating trouble. White blood cells target germs and other invaders; in eos kids, they recognize normally harmless things as *enemies*.


This has been referred to as "The Mother of All Food Allergies". Kids with eos disorders may or may not also have IgE allergies, but the reality is that their bodies react inappropriately to triggers, which frequently include food(s).
Common symptoms include:


Reflux that does not respond to usual therapy (medicines which stop acid production in the stomach)
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Food impactions (food gets stuck in the esophagus)
Nausea and Vomiting
Failure to thrive (poor growth, malnutrition, or weight loss) and poor appetite
Abdominal or chest pain
Feeding refusal/intolerance or poor appetite
Difficulty sleeping
EE is a relatively uncommon disorder that doctors may not encounter often. The diagnosis of EE is often delayed, sometimes for years, because of lack of awareness of these disorders.

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