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High Eosinophils

Sep 22, 2014

Eosinophils, also known as acidophils is a type of leukocytes or white blood cells, which are part of the body’s immune system which helps to protect against viral, parasitic and bacterial infections.

White blood cells play an important role in protecting the body from parasites. Elevated levels of white blood cells in the body can help to indicate whether or not you are suffering from an illness because this means your body is producing more white blood cells to help fight off an infection. What does high Eosinophils mean? How should you deal with high Eosinophils?

High Eosinophils

Definition

Eosinophilia refers to a level of eosinophils that is higher than normal. Eosinophils circulate in the blood, but concentrations of these cells can occur at the site of inflammation or an infection. Tissue eosinophila can be found in tissue samples during exploratory procedures or in fluid samples such as mucus. Blood eosinophilia is found with a blood test, often when testing a complete blood count.

The normal Eosinophils count is less than 350 cells per microliter (cells/mcL).Over 500 eosinophils per microliter is considered eosinophilia in an adult. Over 1500 eosinophils per microliter that occurs over several months is known as hpyereosinophilic syndrome.

Symptoms

Symptoms of eosinophilia tend to mirror the underlying condition that has triggered it. For example, if you are suffering from asthma symptoms might include difficulty breathing (dyspnea), wheezing or breathlessness while a parasitic infection may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever or a skin rash.

Causes

Allergic Disorders	Allergic disorders are noted by the presence of eosinophils. Rhinoconjunctivitis or hay fever can cause these increases, as can asthma.
Drug Reactions	Any medication or drug has the potential to cause a reaction, including allergic reactions that can cause eosinophils to elevate in tissues or the blood where the drug is located.
Infectious Diseases	Fungal, parasitic and other types of infections are commonly associated with an increase of eosinophils.
Blood Disorders	Hematologic disorders such as lymphoma, leukemia, hypereosinophilic, tumors, atheroembolic disease or mastocytosis can cause an increase in eosinophils.
Immunologic Disorders or Reactions	Ommen’s syndrome, Hyper-IgE syndrome and transplant reactions are some of the conditions that could cause eosinophils to rise.
Endocrine Disorders	Hypoadrenalism can cause increases in blood eosinophils, including the conditions listed below.
Skin and Subcutaneous Disorders	Atopic dermatitis , pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, drug induced lesions, dermatitis herpetiformis, angioedema, urticarial, Shulman’s syndrome, Kimura’s disease, Wells syndrome, oral mucosa, eosinophilic ulers, or recurrent cutaneous necrotizing eosinophilic vasculitis can cause these conditions.
Pulmonary Conditions	Pulmonary conditions known to raise eosinophils include Loeffler’s syndrome, eosinophilic lung disease, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, eosinophilic pneumonia, pleural eosinophilia, and eosinophilic granuloma.
Gastrointestinal Diseases	Parasitic infections, gastroesophageal reflux, fungal infections, inflammatory bowel disease, helicobacter pylori infections, food allergic disorders, protein-induced enteropathy, celiac disease, allergic colitis, pemphigus vegetans, primary eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroenteritis can cause eosinophil increases.
Neurologic Disorders	Central nervous system infections, subdrual hematoma membranes, drug induced adverse reactions and ventriculoperitoneal shunts can cause this reaction.
Rheumatologic Illnesses	Ventriculoperitoneal shunts, central nervous system infections, subdural hematoma membranes and drug induced adverse reactions may lead to high eosinophils.
Cardiac Conditions	Churg-Strauss syndrome, heart damage, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and some congenital heart conditions can lead to increases in blood eosinophils.
Renal Diseases	Eosinophils found in the urine may indicate eosinophilic cystitis or interstitial nephritis.

Diagnosis and Treatments

Eosinophil count tests can be performed during a complete blood count or CBC. If your doctor suspects you have high eosinophils or it is detected during an examination, further testing including CT-scans, tissue biopsies, X-rays, serological exams, liver function tests, urinalysis or stool analysis may be performed.

You will not treat eosinophilia, but rather seek treatment for the underlying condition that has caused it. Corticosteroids are generally successful in treating some forms of eosinophilia that do not stem from malignant conditions. Severe forms of this disorder that affect vital organs will require more aggressive drugs to treat. This may include anticoagulant therapy or administering chemotherapeutic agents. It may also be necessary to perform surgery that will restore the function of the affected organs.

When to See a Doctor

You will often discover eosinophilia when your doctor has ordered blood tests to help diagnose other symptoms you are experiencing. This is often discovered by chance rather than being the direct result of an exam. Your doctor can explain what these results mean.

If you have evidence of tissue or blood eosinophilia, your doctor may order more tests to find the underlying problem. If you get an accurate diagnosis you can treat these conditions and your eosinophilia will also fade.

Those with persistent hypereosinophilic syndrome you will need to work with your doctor to monitor your health to prevent potential complications over time.