Iron Chef and Food Allergies

Iron Chef Challenge

Food allergy mom Susan McArthur has challenged the Iron Chefs: Create a meal free of the top 8 allergens (plus corn!). That's a tall order even for those of us who have been dealing with multiple food allergies for many years! Susan's daughter Samantha, an aspiring chef herself, deals with a rare (although the rates are raising alarmingly) incurable white blood cell disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). She receives nourishment through a feeding tube.

Samantha and her mom have started an online petition to bring awareness to EoE. They are looking for 1000 signatures in the hope that the Iron Chefs will accept the challenge. At last count they had 955 signatures. Will you add your name to the petition? Get the details and help Samantha make her dream come true.

Allergy Gene Identified

Researchers at CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) have identified the gene that could be responsible for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

This is big news because the gene, TSLP, has already been linked to other allergic diseases, like asthma and eczema. It's just another piece of the puzzle as scientists try to understand the relationships between allergic diseases in an effort to treat and cure these common disorders.

You will need to subscribe to Nature Genetics in order to read the full article, but here is a snapshot, written in the India edition of Zee News.

What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

While it's hard to pronounce, this newly recognized allergic disease is increasingly being diagnosed in both children and adults. I've been hearing about this disorder from parents recently. I wondered about it and did some research.

I learned that we all have, and need, eosinophils in our bodies. They are located throughout our immune system to help fight off infections and parasites. Eosinophils are not typically found in our espophagus, though. For some people, the eosinophils travel to the esophagus and cause inflammation. The result is a painful disease called Eosinophilic esophagitis, or EE.

The disease of EE can cause symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, reflux, failure to thrive and difficulty sleeping. Those with EE commonly have other allergic disease such as asthma and eczema.

A diagnosis can be made through an endoscopy. If EE is confirmed, food allergy testing is conducted to determine which foods the person should avoid so the eosinophils are not triggered. The difference here from traditional food allergy testing, is that there may not be an apparent immediate reaction. It can take days and weeks for the offending food to trigger a response from the eosinophils. Hence, the difficulty with diagnosis.

The American Partnership for Eosinophil Disorders offers a lot of information about the disease. They also offer advice that is relevant to many in the wider food allergy community such as celebrating without food and information on IEP's (Individualized Healthcare Plans) and 504 plans. They even show some really creative "no cake birthday cakes".

This is yet another allergic disorder on the rise. I always seem to come back to the questions, "What's at the root of all these allergies?"