Eosinophil Awareness Week

In May 2007, The U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 296, forever recognizing the third week of May as National Eosinophil Awareness Week (NEAW). AAFA joins the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) this week to focus on awareness about eosinophil-associated diseases.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell. The purpose of these white blood cells is to help you fight infections. Sometimes these immune cells are over-reactive and cause inflammation in the body. When a person has elevated numbers of eosinophils in their digestive system, tissues, organs, and/or bloodstream, without a known cause, they may have an eosinophil-associated disease.

Eosinophilic asthma is a type of severe asthma that is caused by high levels of eosinophils in the lungs that can cause swelling in the airways which can lead to asthma symptoms. It usually starts in adulthood and may not respond to treatment with a common asthma medicine called a corticosteroid. This type of asthma can be associated with increased allergies. If you have eosinophilic asthma, you can have allergic or non-allergic asthma triggers.

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID) is an umbrella term for eosinophil-associated diseases in the GI tract such as Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). EoE causes swelling in your esophagus. The esophagus is in the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (gut) and is the tube that moves food from your mouth to your stomach when you swallow. EoE may potentially result from an immune response to food. In some cases, environmental allergens (such as pollen, mold, dust mites, etc.) can also trigger EoE. Sometimes, triggers are not clearly identified.