Boy Can’t Eat – Eosinophilic Esophagitis Awareness – NBC Richmond

Imagine having difficulty swallowing every time you eat or never being able to eat solid foods. Most people cant fathom not being able to eat, but 6 year old Justin and his mom Tami of Richmond Virginia (and thousands of others) struggle with food everyday. Since Justin was born he couldnt keep down solid foods and his mom knew something was very wrong. Only after 2 years of meeting with a number of doctors and going through many tests and incorrect diagnoses, did Tami learn Justin had a disease called eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). EoE is an allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus that can cause difficulty in swallowing and heartburn, and in severe cases it can lead to food impaction (food getting stuck in the esophagus) and in children, a failure to thrive (poor growth or weight loss). Due to the lack of education of the medical community and the general public of this disorder, it is currently taking patients and families 2 to 4 years of suffering to be able to obtain an accurate diagnosis. EoE is an emerging disease and there has been a dramatic rise in the number of patients diagnosed with EoE. The disorder is believed to have a higher prevalence than well recognized disorders such as Crohns disease. Story includes an interview from Dr. Anne-Marie Irani.

Boy Can’t Eat – Eosinophilic Esophagitis Awareness – NBC Richmond

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