Eosinophilia - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Eosinophilia: what is it and how is it treated?

Eosinophilia indicates various diseases. This hematological syndrome can develop in a person of any age. Eosinophilia is diagnosed even more often in children than in adults. Eosinophilia can be a sign of allergy, parasitic invasion, or infectious disease.

Eosinophils are blood cells from a group of leukocytes. Eosinophils got their name from the pink cytoplasm. It acquires such a shade after the eosin dye is added to the blood sample. As a result, eosinophils become perfectly visible when examining a blood smear under a microscope. With multiple magnification, you can find that these cells resemble small amoebas, which can emerge from the vascular bed and accumulate in areas of inflammation. In the blood, eosinophils spend no more than an hour, after which they penetrate the tissues.

The main tasks of eosinophils include:

• Activation of antiparasitic immunity with the destruction of the cell membrane of worms. Eosinophils increase the sensitivity of receptors to immunoglobulin E.
• Stimulation of the release and accumulation of inflammatory mediators.
• Absorption and binding of inflammatory mediators.
• Absorption of some small particles, for example, debris of the cell membrane of parasites and bacteria, absorption of virus particles. For this property, eosinophils are called microphages.

Content:

• Normal eosinophil values
• Causes of eosinophilia
• Eosinophilia symptoms
• Eosinophilia treatment

Normal eosinophil values

Normally, no more than 5% of eosinophils of the total number of leukocytes are present in the blood. The absolute value of eosinophils should not exceed 310 per ml of blood. If a person is healthy, then the relative number of eosinophils is calculated. If there are any deviations, then refer to the absolute value. Eosinophilia is indicated by an excess of the level of 0.4 * 10 ⁹ / l for adults. In childhood, eosinophilia is recognized when their values exceed 0.7 * 10 ⁹ / l.

The number of eosinophils can fluctuate depending on the time of day, which is largely determined by the activity of the adrenal glands. So, in the morning, the level of eosinophils can be increased by 15% compared to the norm. If you take blood for research from a patient in the first half of the night, then this indicator will completely exceed normal values by 30%.

Therefore, in order to obtain the most reliable result, the procedure for donating blood for analysis requires adherence to a number of rules:

• The procedure is carried out in the morning.
• 8-11 hours before the test, you must stop eating.
• Alcohol and sweet foods should be excluded 1 day before the procedure.

It is imperative to take into account the fact that during menstrual bleeding, the level of eosinophils in the blood rises, since estrogens stimulate the maturation of these blood cells. After ovulation and before the end of the cycle, the level of eosinophils will, on the contrary, be reduced.

In childhood, the indicators of the norm of eosinophils will differ from that in adults:

• The first 14 days of a child's life - 1-6% of eosinophils in the blood.
• After 15 days and up to a year - 1-5% of eosinophils in the blood.
• From one and a half to one year old - 1-7%.
• From 1 to 5 years old - 1-6%.
• At the age of over 5 years, the eosinophil indicators are equated to the norm of an adult - 1-5%.

Causes of eosinophilia

Concern should be raised when the level of eosinophils in the blood exceeds 700 cells per milliliter of blood.

Three degrees of eosinophilia have been identified:

• Light eosinophilia. Moreover, the level of eosinophils in the blood is 10%.
• Eosinophilia of moderate severity. Moreover, the level of eosinophils in the blood ranges from 11 to 15%.
• Severe eosinophilia. In this case, the excess is 15% or more.

It should be noted that sometimes the diagnosis can be wrong. During the introduction of the eosin dye, not only eosinophils acquire a pink color, but also granular inclusions present in neutrophils. In this case, the level of neutrophils will be lowered, and the level of eosinophils will be increased. In this case, any pathological symptoms in a person will be absent. Upon receipt of such data, a second blood test must be performed.

Allergic tension of the body always leads to an increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood.

This can be observed in the following cases:

• Allergic reaction of an immediate type: hay fever, Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock, urticaria.
• Allergic reaction to drugs, serum sickness.
• Allergic runny nose.
• Skin lesions of an allergic nature (dermatitis, eczema, pemphigus vulgaris).
• Helminthic invasions.
• Parasitic infections: amebiasis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydia.
• Diseases of an autoimmune nature: SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, periarteritis nodosa.
• Respiratory system diseases: bronchial asthma, sarcoidosis, eosinophilic pleurisy, Leffler's disease, histiocytosis.
• Lesions of the digestive tract: eosinophilic gastritis and colitis.

• Blood cancer: lymphoma and lymphogranulomatosis.
• Malignant neoplasms.

The penetration of parasites into the body more often than other causes leads to the development of eosinophilia. This problem is relevant for pediatrics. Such diseases include ascariasis, opisthorchiasis, giardiasis, amebiasis, trichinosis, etc. The body reacts to the presence of foreign beings in it by increasing the level of eosinophils. Moreover, a jump will occur both during the migration of parasites and after the individual reaches maturity.

The reason for the increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood, which is in second place, is an allergic reaction of the body. Moreover, the cause of the allergy does not matter. It can occur on household chemicals, on medicines, on food, on inhaled air saturated with dust, etc. Eosinophils strive to neutralize biologically active substances that cause vasodilation in case of allergies. Therefore, immediately after the allergen enters the body, the level of eosinophils in the blood rises.

Allergic conditions that are accompanied by eosinophilia: bronchial asthma, pollinosis, diathesis in childhood, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, drug allergy.

Among the skin lesions, psoriasis, herpes infection, neurodermatitis and eczema are distinguished.

Some medications are associated with a high risk of developing eosinophilia. These drugs include Aspirin, Euphyllin, beta-blockers, hormonal drugs, Papaverine, Diphenhydramine, drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis and for lowering blood pressure.

Eosinophilia is a marker of malignant tumors in the body. This includes the presence of metastases in the abdominal cavity and pleura, Wilms tumor, cancerous lesions of the dermis and thyroid gland. Also, the production of eosinophils will be disrupted if the tumor affects the bone marrow. The danger in this plan is myeloid leukemia, eosinophilic leukemia, polycythemia vera, etc.

In addition to all the reasons that have been listed above, an organ transplant operation will lead to a jump in eosinophils in the blood. Eosinophilia is one of the signs of rejection of foreign material.

Eosinophilia develops against the background of magnesium deficiency in the body and after its irradiation. Also, the level of eosinophils in the blood will decrease if a person undergoes a peritoneal dialysis procedure.

Eosinophilia symptoms

Eosinophilia is not an independent disease, but only a consequence of one pathology or another. Therefore, it has no symptoms of its own. However, a person needs to focus on certain signs in order to understand that he is developing a certain disorder in the body and it's time to consult a doctor.

Eosinophilia often accompanies parasitic invasions, and the following are common signs of trouble:

• An increase in the size of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver.
• Slimming.
• Anemia.
• An increase in body temperature to subfebrile values.
• Painful sensations in the muscles.
• Increased weakness.
• Lack of desire to consume food.
• Dry cough and skin rashes.

All these symptoms develop because the parasites release toxins that enter the bloodstream and poison the host's body. Almost all patients complain of disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract.

With an allergic reaction of the body, the patient develops skin rashes, blisters may form. In severe cases, a collapse, a sharp decrease in blood pressure, and a state of shock are possible.

Diseases of the digestive system, accompanied by eosinophilia, are expressed in all kinds of dyspeptic disorders, in vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, the appearance of blood in the stool, etc. At the same time, a person should understand that such symptoms do not occur due to an increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood. It develops due to an underlying disease.

Cancers with eosinophilia are indicated by symptoms such as: enlargement of the lymph nodes, high or slightly increased body temperature, pain in muscles and joints, and frequent infectious diseases.

Distinguish eosinophilia of individual organs, but as an independent pathology, it develops very rarely. If this happens, then in the affected area most often there is lung tissue. Pulmonary eosinophilia can manifest itself in eosinophilic vasculitis, pneumonia, and granulomatosis.

The most common form of spontaneous eosinophilia is Leffler's syndrome. The reasons leading to its development are still unknown to science. The disease has a favorable prognosis, accompanied by a cough and a slight increase in body temperature. In the lungs, accumulations of eosinophils are found, which in the future will disappear on their own.

Tropical eosinophilia is diagnosed in people who live in countries located in the immediate vicinity of the equator. With this disease, infiltrates are also formed in the lungs. There is an assumption that this pathology is of an infectious nature, since it has a wave-like course with episodes of exacerbation and calm. However, such patients can be completely cured.

In addition to lung tissue, eosinophilic infiltrates can form in muscle tissue. The myocardium becomes a dangerous localization. This pathology leads to a decrease in the cavities of the heart and the development of heart failure.

Eosinophilia treatment

Eosinophilia, as an independent disease, does not make sense to treat, since it is the result of one or another disorder in the body. If an increase in the level of eosinophils is associated with parasitic invasion, then the patient is prescribed anthelmintic drugs. It is necessary to supplement the therapy with vitamin and mineral complexes, desensitizing drugs (Fenkarol, Pipolfen). If the patient has anemia, he is prescribed iron-containing drugs.

Allergic reactions of the body are eliminated by taking antihistamines. It can be Claritin, Fenkarol, Suprastin, Zirtek, etc. A severe course of allergy requires the appointment of hormonal drugs, in parallel, the patient is given infusion therapy. If skin rashes appear, it is advisable to use ointments and creams with an antihistamine effect (Advantan, Elidel, etc.). To reduce the inflammatory reaction, sorbents are prescribed to patients.

The presence of an oncological process requires the consultation of an oncologist. Patients are prescribed cytostatics, hormonal drugs, immunosuppressants. Depending on the type of tumor and the patient's health, standardized treatment regimens are used.

Thus, eosinophilia is a hematological symptom that can indicate both mild infections and allergic reactions, and severe pathologies that threaten a person's life. Therefore, an increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood should not be ignored.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".