Atlanta, GA (May 18, 2023) – The American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) is celebrating  the 2nd annual World Eosinophilic Diseases Day May 18, 2023, to increase global awareness of these conditions.

Eosinophils are a type of blood cell that have a role in immune system responses to medical conditions such as infections, inflammation, and allergies, to name a few. If a person has too many eosinophils without another known cause, it may be because of an eosinophil-associated disease.

The diagnosis depends on where in the body the eosinophils are found, including the gastrointestinal tract, heart, sinuses, blood, lungs, bladder, connective tissue. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, trouble swallowing, food getting stuck in throat, stomach pain, loss of appetite or weight loss, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and wheezing.

Eosinophil-associated diseases are chronic conditions that require ongoing medical care. The symptoms and day-to-day management of these conditions may significantly impact quality of life. The conditions affect both adults and children.

“Eosinophilic diseases affect people around the globe,” said Mary Jo Strobel, APFED’s Executive Director. “By uniting with patient advocates around the world, we can speak with a unified voice, calling attention to the myriad of symptoms patients experience. Elevating awareness of these conditions can help reduce diagnostic delays and lead patients to treatments faster.”

This year, in celebration of World Eosinophilic Diseases Day, APFED announced new resources, including:

• A podcast episode (number 023) featuring Dr. Florence Roufosse, President of the International Eosinophil Society, who discussed global unmet needs for eosinophilic diseases.
• A multicomponent cross-sectional needs assessment study for EoE in the US. APFED collaborated on this study which aimed to understand the patient journey for EoE as well as health care providers’ awareness of and practice around EoE. The summary is available in a report called Life with EoE: The Patient Experience and Opportunities to Improve Care in the U.S.
• A plain language summary of a landmark patient charter for eosinophil-associated diseases, which was the outcome of a global collaboration. The summary was published in the journal Immunotherapy.

To learn more about eosinophil-associated diseases, visit apfed.org.

About American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED)

Founded in 2001, the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that assists and supports patients and families affected by eosinophil-associated disorders, by providing education, creating awareness, supporting research, and promoting advocacy. To learn more, visit apfed.org.