Diseases

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome

Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) is a rare condition. It was first described in 1989 after 3 patients in New Mexico were found to have an illness with marked myalgia and eosinophilia. They had all taken preparations containing L-tryptophan. An epidemic illness then became evident in the USA. In total, over 1,500 people were affected of whom more than 30 died.1 At the same time there were cases reported in Germany, Canada and 11 cases in the United Kingdom. Since this epidemic, very few cases have been identified

Eosinophilic cryptitis

Eosinophilic Gastritis is an extremely uncommondisorder. The disease is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of various layers of gastrointestinal tract in the absence of any known cause of eosinophilia

Eosinophilic cystitis

A rare bladder disorder where eosinophils attack the bladder. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells that usually fight allergens or foreign matter in the body. The condition may be caused by chemotherapy, radiation, a food allergy or for no apparent reason.

Eosinophilic enteropathy

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a disease characterized by swelling of the esophagus (the part of the body connecting the throat and the stomach) caused by an allergic white blood cell, the eosinophil.

Eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (eosinophilic oesophagitis), also known as allergic oesophagitis, is an allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus that involves eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. Symptoms are swallowing difficulty, food impaction, and heartburn.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) was first described in children but also occurs in adults. The condition is not well understood, but food allergy may play a significant role.The treatment may consist of removal of known or suspected triggers and medication to suppress the immune response. In severe cases, it may be necessary to stretch the esophagus with an endoscopy procedure.

Eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is an allergic inflammatory disease characterized by elevated eosinophils in the esophagus. EE is a newly recognized disease that over the past decade has been increasingly diagnosed in children and adults. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a rare disease, but increasing in prevalence to an estimated 1: 2000. This increase is thought to reflect an increase in diagnosis as well as a true increase in EE cases. Fortunately, the medical community is responding and new scientific information is emerging to guide management of this disorder, which often persists with ongoing or recurrent symptoms.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is characterized by a large number of eosinophils and inflammation in the esophagus lining (the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). The esoinophils are usually only seen with the aid of microscopes and special diagnositic procedures. These eosinophils persist despite treatment with acid blocking medicines and other standard treatments. People with EE commonly have other allergic diseases such as rhinitis, asthma, and/or eczema. EE affects people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Males are more commonly affected than females. In certain families, there may be an inherited (genetic) tendency.

In individuals with EE, the eosinophils cause injury to the tissue in the esophagus. EE can be driven by food allergy or intolerance: most patients who eliminate food proteins from their diet (by drinking only an amino-acid based formula) improve or other environmental factors that researchers are beginning to understand.

Eosinophils are not normally present in the esophagus, although they may be found in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Diseases other than EE can cause eosinophils in the esophagus including gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD), food allergy, and inflammatory bowel disease. A gastroenterologist can diagnose EoE based on clinical symptoms, number of eosinophils present, and tissue inflammation.

 

Source: American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders

Eosinophilic fasciitis (Shulman’s Syndrome)

Eosinophils are a particular type of white blood cells, usually representing a small percentage (less than 8% of the total white blood cell population). The number of these cells (eosinophil count) increases in certain illnesses, including allergies, asthma, Addison's disease, sarcoidosis, parasite infections, drug reactions, and connective tissue diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma).

Eosinophilic granuloma

Histiocytosis is a general name for a group of syndromes that involve an abnormal increase in the number of immune cells called histiocytes. There are three major classes of histiocytoses: * Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which is also called histiocytosis X * Malignant histiocytosis syndrome (now known as T-cell lymphoma) * Non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis (also known as hemophagocytic syndrome) This article focuses only on Langerhans cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X).

Eosinophilic synovitis

Inflammation of the lining of joints due to the presence of excessive eosinophils. Eosinophils can build up in parts of the body as a response to a variety of conditions such as allergy, parasitic infections and rheumatoid arthritis.

Ependymoblastoma

Ependymoblastoma (medical condition): A type of brain tumor that consists of small round cells and is believed to originate from primitive nerve cells in the brain.

Ependymoma

Ependymoma is a tumor that arises from the ependyma, a tissue of the central nervous system. Usually, in pediatric cases the location is intracranial, while in adults it is spinal. The common location of intracranial ependymoma is the fourth ventricle. Rarely, ependymoma can occur in the pelvic cavity.

Syringomyelia can be caused by an ependymoma. Ependymomas are also seen with neurofibromatosis type II

Epidemic encephalitis

infections of the brain caused by arthropod-borne viruses primarily from the families togaviridae, flaviviridae, bunyaviridae, reoviridae and rhabdoviridae; life cycles of these viruses are characterized by zoonoses, with birds and lower mammals serving as intermediate hosts; the virus is transmitted to humans by the bite of mosquitoes or ticks; clinical manifestations include fever, headache, alterations of mentation, focal neurologic deficits, and coma.

Epidemic encephalomyelitis

Avian encephalomyelitis is a viral disease of the central nervous system of chickens, pheasants, turkeys, and quail. It has a worldwide distribution. Morbidity 5-60% depending on the immune status of the majority of parents, mortality high. Vertical transmission is very important, transmission occurs over about 1-2 weeks, some lateral. The route of infection is transovarian with an incubation period of 1-7 days; lateral transmission is probably by the oral route, incubation >10 days. Virus in faeces may survive 4 weeks or more.

Epidermal Nevus Syndrome

Epidermal nevi (EN) are congenital hamartomas of embryonal ectodermal origin classified on the basis of their main component; the component may be sebaceous, apocrine, eccrine, follicular, or keratinocytic. An estimated one third of individuals with epidermal nevi have involvement of other organ systems; hence, this condition is considered to be an epidermal nevus syndrome (ENS). 

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1117506-overview

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (also called Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia), colloquially known as tree man illness is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genetic hereditary skin disorder associated with a high risk of carcinoma of the skin. It is characterized by abnormal susceptibility to human papillomaviruses (HPVs) of the skin. The resulting uncontrolled HPV infections result in the growth of scaly macules and papules, particularly on the hands and feet. It is typically associated with HPV types 5 and 8, which are found in about 80 percent of the normal population as asymptomatic infections, although other types may also contribute.

The condition usually has an onset of between the ages of 1–20, but can occasionally present in middle-age. It is named after the physicians who first documented it, Felix Lewandowsky and Wilhelm Lutz.

Epidermoid carcinoma

* Squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the skin is the cancerous (i.e., malignant) transformation of the squamous cells (keratinocytes in skin), which normally cover the surface of the skin and other body parts (e.g., lungs, mouth, nose, throat) providing protection against outside forces (e.g., infections, injuries, sunlight). A malignant transformation means that these cancer cells are dividing rapidly without following the normal guidelines of cell division and maturation. Since the depletion of the ozone layer in the last century, harmful ultraviolet rays (UV) of the sun are passing through unfiltered, and are giving rise to more cases of skin cancer than ever before. SCC constitutes 20% of all skin cancers.
* Bowen’s Disease is subset of Actinic Keratosis or SCC in situ, appearing as a reddish skin patch. This is basically an early stage (in situ) SCC that has not spread beyond its point of origin. SCC almost always appears on the areas of the skin with the most exposure to sunlight such as the nose, lower lips, back of hands, forehead, neck, and ears. On rare occasions, there may be an appearance in the genital areas.

Epidermolysa bullosa simplex and limb girdle muscular dystrophy

Epidermolysa bullosa simplex and limb girdle muscular dystrophy: A rare syndrome involving fragile skin that blisters easily as well as muscle weakness and wasting in the head and limbs. The severity of the blistering and muscle weakness is variable with some sufferers dying during infancy.

Epidermolysis bullosa

Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of rare diseases that cause the skin to blister. The blisters may appear in response to minor injury, heat, or friction from rubbing, scratching or adhesive tape. In severe cases, the blisters may occur inside the body, such as the lining of the mouth or intestines.

Most types of epidermolysis bullosa are inherited. The condition usually shows up in infancy or early childhood. Some people don't develop signs and symptoms until adolescence or early adulthood.

Epidermolysis bullosa has no cure, though mild forms may improve with age. Treatment focuses on addressing the symptoms — such as infection and itching — and preventing pain and wounds. Severe forms may cause serious complications and can be fatal.

There are four main types of epidermolysis bullosa:

  • Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
  • Epidermolysis bullosa simplex
  • Junctional epidermolysis bullosa
  • Kindler Syndrome

Identifying the exact type can be hard because there are many subtypes of EB. Within each type or subtype, a person may be mildly or severely affected. The disease can range from being a minor inconvenience to completely disabling, and fatal in some cases. Most types of EB are inherited. The inheritance pattern may be autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive. Management involves protecting the skin, reducing friction against the skin, and keeping the skin cool.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is a chronic subepidermal blistering disease associated with autoimmunity to type VII collagen within anchoring fibril structures that are located at the dermoepidermal junction.

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica- Bart type

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica, Bart type: A rare inherited skin blistering disorder characterized by the development of blisters on the skin and mucous membranes as well as areas of missing skin at birth. Nail abnormalities are also present

Epidermolysis bullosa herpetiformis- Dowling-Meara

Epidermolysis bullosa herpetiformis, Dowling-Meara: A rare inherited skin blistering disorder where blisters occur anywhere on the skin but particularly on the palms, soles, trunk, neck and around mouth. The blisters heal without scarring.

Epidermolysis bullosa intraepidermic

Epidermolysis bullosa intraepidermic: A rare inherited skin disorder characterized by separation of the layers within the skin which results in fragile, blistered skin. The blisters usually heal without scarring and the skin that is most often placed under trauma (feet and hands) is the most affected.

Epidermolysis bullosa inversa dystrophica

Epidermolysis bullosa inversa dystrophica: A rare genetic syndrome characterized by fragile skin which blisters easily. The corneas, vulval and anal areas are involved as well as the trunk, neck, thighs and legs.

Epidermolysis bullosa letalis

EBL is one of several serious skin disorders with severe blistering of the skin. The infantile form identified in the Holmes County Amish may have its onset before birth with blisters forming in utero and therefore lesions are often present at birth. Most are on the limbs and trunk with relative sparing of the hands and feet. They rarely heal and instead the raw tissue beneath constantly seeps serum protein and electrolytes much like thermal burns do and there may significant loss of bodily fluids. The slightest touch may lead to sloughing of the superficial skin. Infection is a constant threat and these complications often lead to death within weeks to months.