Eosinophilia
Basic Information
Eosinophilia refers to a group of conditions that cause abnormally high levels of eosinophils to develop in either the blood or body tissues. An eosinophil is a kind of white blood cell. These white blood cells are manufactured in the bone marrow, and then transferred into the bloodstream and the gut lining. When the body is functioning in a normal manner, eosinophils are very beneficial. In fact, whenever the immune system recognizes that it is under attack by parasitic organisms, the body begins mass producing eosinophils in order to combat the infection. In most cases, once the parasite has been removed, the level of eosinophils in the bloodstream is allowed to return to normal. However, in some situations, the body keeps on producing eosinophils at a high rate, allowing them to accumulate in the blood and tissues. This build-up of eosinophils ultimately leads to body damage.
There are many different reasons why the body increases its production of eosinophils. The most common reason is to fight off parasitic infections. However, overproduction of these white blood cells can also occur in response to allergic disease, chemical poisoning, recent blood transfusion, or exposure to nickel. Each one of these causative agents seems to be responsible for a different type of eosinophilia.
The following is a break-down of the different types of eosinophilia:
Loeffler’s Syndrome
Loeffler’s Syndrome refers to a self-limiting lung infection that is associated with an increase of eosinophils in the blood and lungs. It is also called eosinophilic pneumonia, pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia, and acute pulmonary eosinophilia. In most cases, this disorder is caused by an allergic reaction. In other words, the body responds to an allergic disease in the lungs by overproducing eosinophils, and then is unable to reduce and control the high level of white blood cells in the blood and lungs. As a result, the excess eosinophils begin to damage the body.
Loeffler’s syndrome is a very rare disease. Studies show that it affects only 6 out of every 100,000 people.
The symptoms of loeffler’s syndrome include:
- General ill feeling
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Cough; production of phlegm
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Rapid respiratory rate
- Headache
- Muscle pain
These symptoms may range from being mild to severe. They will often go away on their own without treatment, although it is still important to visit a doctor if you detect any of these symptoms.
There are several techniques that a doctor may use to diagnose loeffler’s syndrome. A doctor may use a stethoscope in order to listen to the lungs. The sound of fluid present in the lungs or of a friction rub may indicate eosinophilia of the lungs. Other diagnostic tests include a bronchoscopy, an open lung biopsy, a chest x-ray, a sputum smear, or a white blood cell count.
Eosinophilia is a self-limiting condition, which means that it will often go away on its own. However, a doctor can prescribe antibiotics in order to treat the infection that is responsible for the overproduction of eosinophils. If the overproduction is a result of a bad reaction to a type of drug or chemical, the doctor can also tell the infected person to avoid the drug or chemical. Steroid therapy is also available if the doctor is unable to detect the cause of the disorder.
Eosinophilic Fasciitis
Eosinophilic fasciitis is a disorder that results in the inflammation of the tissues that cover the surfaces of the muscles. These tissues are called the “fascia”. Once again, this type of eosinophilia occurs when a high number of eosinophils accumulate in the tissues that make up the fascia. The cause of this kind of eosinophilia is unknown. It is extremely rare in the United States.
The symptoms of this disorder include:
Eosinophilic fasciitis can be diagnosed by taking a sample of affected tissue for the purposes of a biopsy.
The goal of treatment for this kind of eosinophilia is to reduce or eliminate inflammation. If the symptoms are mild, the doctor will prescribe either aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If the symptoms are more severe, the doctor will prescribe prednisone and immune suppression medications.
Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome
EMS is another type of eosinophilia. It first appeared in New Mexico in 1989 when three women with similar symptoms simultaneously sought medical care. Doctors realized that each one of these women had recently taken the same contaminated health supplement. Soon after, health authorities acknowledged that this particular drug had made many people sick, and that some people had even died as a result. Thus, it is believed that in the case of EMS, the cause of the eosinophilia is an adverse physical reaction to a drug or chemical.
The symptoms of EMS include:
Unlike the other forms of eosinophilia, there is no cure of EMS. This is a long-term illness. Instead of focusing on a cure, the objective of treatment is to reduce the pain and irritation associated with the symptoms. Most doctors will prescribe muscle relaxants and pain relievers to diminish the symptoms.
Unfortunately, most people do not fully recover from this illness.
The Symptoms of Eosinophilia
The symptoms of eosinophilia vary with the kind of condition that the person has. In most cases, the symptoms are those of the causative condition. For instance, if asthma is responsible for the eosinophilia, then the symptoms will include wheezing and difficult breathing. Likewise, if a parasitic infection is responsible, then the symptoms will include diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, and rashes. If the case of eosinophilia is the result of a reaction to a drug or chemical, the symptoms will typically include skin rashes. This type of eosinophilia is most likely to happen after a person begins taking a new drug. Besides all of these indicators of eosinophilia, other symptoms can include:
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Lymph node enlargement
- Numbness and tingling as a result of nerve damage
- Enlargement of the spleen and liver
- Swelling of the abdomen
Diagnosis
There are two common ways of diagnosing eosinophilia. If the condition is the result of excess eosinophils in the bloodstream, the doctor can take a blood test. If the condition is the result of excess eosinophils in the body tissues, the doctor can examine Once a doctor realizes that a person has eosinophilia, they will typically try to determine the precise cause. Skin biopsies and blood tests can be used to determine if the cause is allergenic in nature. Blood and stool samples can be used to determine if the cause is parasitic in nature. The doctor will also ask the person if they are taking any drugs, and in particular, if they have recently begun taking any new drugs. Treatment The objective of treatment is to eradicate the underlying cause of the eosinophilic accumulation. Thus, once the doctor determines if the cause is allergenic, medicinal or parasitic in nature, the doctor can begin the appropriate treatment. Treatment is typically very effective and relatively non-toxic. Medications may be prescribed in order to terminate eosinophilia caused by allergies or parasites. At the same time, if the condition is caused by a medicine reaction, the doctor will make sure the person avoids taking the causative medication. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe a replacement medication that does not result in eosinophil overproduction. In most cases, this condition either goes away on its own, or responds well to treatment. It is only under rare circumstances that this condition becomes a chronic complication. If it does become a long-term problem, the affected person will typically take a regimen of corticosteroids in order to regulate the number of eosinophils in the blood and body tissues.