What is eosinophilic gastroenteritis?
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease in which the lining of the stomach, small intestines and large intestines become inflitrated with eosinophilis. Eosinophilis is a type of white blood cell. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall, gastrointestinal symptoms, and in more than 50% of patients, peripheral eosinophilia. Approximately one half of EG patients have multiple food allergies and/or elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE), suggesting an allergic etiology. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis can spread to other organs. It mostly affects children and young adults. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is also referred to as EG. Signs of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, dark, tarry stools, bloody, mucousy stools, lethargy, and weight loss. Dermatological lesions have also been reported in several cases. These may include swollen, red foot pads, crusty inflamed ears or generalized skin sores.
