Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis (EG).

Is still a fairly rare disease; however it has become more prevalent within the past few years. EOS, as it is sometimes called, can actually be classified as a blood disorder, even though the affected part of this disease is the gastro-intestinal tract. Eosinophils are a normal part of the body’s defense system, and when the body senses an intruder it will react by immediately sending eosinophils through the blood stream to attack the intruder and protect the body.

With Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, or EG, something has gone wrong and the body is sensing certain foods as harmful intruders, setting off the immune system response. The eosinophils hit the stomach, small intestine, or colon (depending on where this person is sensitive or reactive), can’t really find any true invaders and ends up turning in to the gastrointestinal wall.

Eosinophils are highly effective defenders of the body, so when they attack the intestinal wall, they do some damage. This will produce the symptoms associated with Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, which are usually pain, vomiting, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal distension. The eosinophils can penetrate the gastrointestinal system to different depths, depending on the severity. Over time, the villi in the intestine, which is what absorbs the nutrients into the body from the food we eat, can be completely destroyed.