Eosinophils

Background

  • Eosinophilia is > 0.44 x 109/L
  • Causes
    • Asthma / allergic disorder
    • Infections – parasitic, malaria, TB, fungal
    • Medications – penicillin, allopurinol, amitriptyline, carbamazepine
    • Smoking
    • Connective tissue disorder – RA, PAN, Churg-Strauss
    • Endocrine – Addison’s
    • Skin disease – Eczema, Psoriasis Dermatitis Herpetiformis, Erythema Multiforme
    • Malignancy – Lymphoma, Leukaemia, Lung/Stomach Ca
    • Others – Endocarditis, Post-splenectomy, Irradiation, Loffler syndrome

 

Assess

  • History: Medications, Travel, Atopy
  • Investigate: ESR, CRP, IgE, ANA, CXR, stool OCP, serology for parasites depending on travel history

 

Manage

  • Refer to haematology
    • Eosinophils > 1.5 persisting for 3 months without obvious cause
  • Consider discussion with Infectious Diseases if travel history