Eosinophils are a subspecies of white blood cells (leukocytes) that help our body fight diseases and infections by “eating” certain types of bacteria, foreign substances, parasites and other “enemies” of the body. But if they are so useful, then why are elevated eosinophils considered by doctors as something wrong? Let's try to answer this question.
Elevated Eosinophils: Common Causes
Increased eosinophils in the blood (this condition is called eosinophilia)
may be the body's response to allergies. Their number may increase at the moment when any bacteria or parasites are present in the body. Eosinophils in the blood can increase if a person has some types of skin disorders, such as pemphigus, due to which blisters appear on the body.
Elevated eosinophils can also be the result of diseases that lead to an increase in myeloid tissue located in the bone marrow. One of these diseases is true polycythemia - with it, the amount of red bodies and other blood cells in the blood increases. Another disease is myelofibrosis, in which myeloid tissue in the bone marrow is replaced by fibrous tissue.
Some types of medications increase the level of this white blood cell. It can be penicillin, aspirin, diphenhydramine, imipramine, beta-blockers and many other drugs.
Elevated eosinophils: rare diseases
A number of collagen vascular diseases can lead to an increase in eosinophils. This is a group of acquired diseases that completely affect the blood vessels and connective tissue. Elevated eosinophils are also detected if a person has eosinophilic gastroenteritis, a very rare disease. With it, eosinophils are thrown into the small intestine and end up in the stool.
There is another swamp - sarcoidosis. Above normal eosinophils can also be a consequence of this disease. Sarcoidosis is a condition where small bumps form in the airways on the tissues.
Loeffler's syndrome also leads to an increase in eosinophils. The disease manifests itself in the form of cough and fever with such further deterioration as respiratory failure.
Addison's disease also leads to an increase in the number of eosinophils. This is a disease due to which the adrenal glands do not produce hormones at all or produce too little.
This list is by no means complete. Elevated eosinophils also occur in atopic (e.g., bronchial asthma), parasitic (fascioliasis, hookworm, etc.), non-atopic skin (e.g., epidermolysis bullosa), gastrointestinal (like cirrhosis), rheumatic (rheumatoid arthritis, etc. .), hematological (acute leukemia, pernicious anemia, etc.) diseases. Diseases of the mixed group: hypoxia, splenectomy, chorea and others.
Therefore, analysis to determine the level of eosinophils is so important for doctors. It helps to identify one of the above and many other diseases and conditions of the body.