Eosinophilia can be associated with symptoms like a rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.
Treatment is aimed at alleviating the underlying medical condition and reducing the effects of the excess eosinophils.
Eosinophilia often doesn’t cause specific symptoms, especially during an infection.
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The symptoms you may experience with eosinophilia are usually the symptoms of the infection.
Sometimes eosinophilia causes symptoms that are related to the chemicals they release.
Less common causes include:
Which Medications Can Cause Eosinophilia?
This medication side effect is not the same as an allergic reaction to the drug.
For example, asthma is treated with medications that help prevent flare-ups and symptoms.
And, in some situations, you might also need treatment to reduce your eosinophil count.
Treatment of eosinophilia can include steroids, myelosuppressive medications, and immunomodulators.These treatments reduce inflammation.
There are also medications that can specifically target eosinophilia to reduce the effects of these white blood cells.
These include the monoclonal antibodies, mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Eosinophilia?
Eosinophilia is diagnosed with acomplete blood count (CBC).
This test measures the number and percentage of different blood cells in a peripheral blood sample.
Eosinophilia is defined as an elevation of the eosinophil count above 500 cells per microliter.
Other tests you might need would be determined based on the most likely causes.
Summary
Eosinophilia is an increase in eosinophils, a pop in of white blood cell.
These cells help the immune system fight infections.
They can temporarily increase as an infection is resolving.
The symptoms of a high eosinophil count can include swelling, rashes, itching, wheezing and more.
You may also have symptoms of the causative disease.
Don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider to explain it to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your symptoms will depend on the underlying condition causing eosinophilia.
Sometimes COVID-19 is associated with eosinophilia.
Blood cancers often result in an elevation in the number of one or more types of white blood cells.
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Kovalszki A, Weller PF.Eosinophilia.Prim Care.
