HOUSE PASSES LARSON BILL TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL EOSINOPHIL AWARENESS WEEK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:May 15, 2007

HOUSE PASSES LARSON BILL TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL EOSINOPHIL AWARENESS WEEK

WASHINGTON- Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 296, a resolution sponsored by Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) recognizing National Eosinophil (ee-oh-sin-oh-fil) Awareness Week, which is reserved the third week of May.

?There are over 50,000 people in the United States living with eosinophilic disorders and their diagnosis profoundly affects their quality of life,? said Congressman Larson. ?This resolution also recognizes the tireless crusade of thousands of parents whose children have eosinophilic disorders, deal with the consequences of that everyday, and who are dedicated to finding a cure.?

An eosinophil disorder is thought to be both an allergic and autoimmune disease which results when the body produces eosinophils?white blood cells most commonly associated with allergies--in above normal amounts. As a result, the body?s immune system mistakes common food proteins and environmental allergens as foreign bodies and works to fight them--essentially causing the body to attack its own tissue.

Eosinophilic disorders profoundly affect the quality of life of those who suffer from them. Patients must eat severely restricted diets and some are unable to eat any food at all, surviving by being fed an amino acid based formula directly into their stomach through a feeding tube. Patients can experience a range of symptoms from nausea or vomiting to gastro paresis, inflamed blood vessels and malnutrition. Some patients with eosinophilic disorders have severe long-term disabilities. Others suffer from inflammation of vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidney and gastrointestinal tract, which can be life threatening. Eosinophilic disorders are chronic in nature, have no cure and can be fatal.

?We must raise the awareness and research of eosinophilic disorders to ensure that patients suffering from it can get proper treatment and lead healthy lives. I applaud the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders for doing a great job at promoting education and awareness of this issue and providing a resources for those suffering from it,? added Larson.

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