Gene site found for children's food allergy

Pediatrics researchers have identified the first major gene location responsible for a severe, often painful food allergy called eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). In this disease, which may cause weight loss, vomiting, heartburn and swallowing difficulties, a patient may be unable to eat a wide variety of foods. A genome-wide association study found EoE was linked to a region of chromosome 5 that includes two genes.