Extreme Makeover, Home Edition to feature family living with Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders

APFED announced today it has received confirmation of the airing of Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, which will feature the Stockdale family from Middleton, Idaho with children living with Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders. The show will air on ABC on
December 2, 2007.

The Stockdale family, as well as thousands of patients around the country, know first hand the challenges of living with EGID. Although this disease is not life threatening, EGID negatively impact quality of life on many levels including school and work absenteeism and avoidance of social activities that typically involve food.

APFED expects that the airing of this episode will call attention to these disorders and the alarming rate at which they are being diagnosed. "We have watched the prevalence of this disease climb at a rapid rate during the past few years. Awareness of the spectrum of these and related diseases is essential for both pediatric and adult patients to obtain the specialized care they require." expressed Beth Mays, founder and President of APFED.

APFED will have volunteers available to take emails and phone calls from viewers with questions following the airing of this episode, and throughout the following week. Contact information and phone numbers will be listed on APFED’s website.

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders, EGID, are distinct diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which render the patient unable to tolerate food proteins. Recent demographic studies estimate that 1:2000 children is living with eosinophilic esophagitis, in which only the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth to stomach, is affected. Statistics on the adult population are currently unknown.

As the medical community becomes more aware of Eosinophilic Disorders, these numbers are expected to rise. Due to the lack of awareness among the medical community and the general public of these disorders, patients may wait 2 to 4 years to obtain an accurate diagnosis and receive proper treatment.

More often than not, these disorders are misdiagnosed as other diseases.

Treatments for these disorders include total food elimination, requiring patients to live off an elemental formula which can be taken either orally or via a feeding tube; limited/restricted diets; and/or steroid treatments. There is currently no cure for EGID.

APFED maintains a database of patients around the country. If you would like to contact a patient and/or their family in your area, please contact Julie Springer at 407-340-2412 or julie@apfed.org and we will assist in coordinating this.

For more information on Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders and APFED, please visit our website or contact APFED’s Media Coordinator.

American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) is a non-profit organization dedicated to patients and their families coping with eosinophilic disorders. APFED strives to expand education, create awareness, and support research while promoting advocacy among its members.

APFED
www.apfed.org
3419 Whispering Way Drive
Richmond, TX 77469

Media Coordinator: Julie A. Springer
julie@apfed.org
407-340-2412

American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) is a non-profit organization dedicated to patients and their families coping with eosinophilic disorders. APFED strives to expand education, create awareness, and support research while promoting advocacy among its members.

This release was published on openPR.