What Is Eosinophilia?
Eosinophilia is the presence of a high number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood. According to scientific sources, it is a common fact in clinical practice and it is not a pathology in itself, rather it is an immune response.
The importance of this event lies on two fronts: diagnostic and pathogenic. On the one hand, eosinophilia suggests the presence of an infection in the patient, but on the other, the release of products from these white blood cells can be associated with tissue damage.
Thus, we are facing a normal response by the immune system that can get out of control and cause damage. Here we tell you everything you need to know about it.
What is eosinophilia?
According to the medical literature, eosinophilia is considered to exist when the total number of circulating blood eosinophils is significantly higher than the values presented in the normal population. According to different authors, there are different limits to suggest this picture. Some of them are the following:
- Bridgen defines eosinophilia as values greater than 700 eosinophils per cubic millimeter of blood.
- Other researchers place this value between 350 and 600.
- In general, it can be concluded that more than 500 eosinophils per cubic millimeter of blood give rise to eosinophilia.
In turn, this abnormal presence of white blood cells can be divided into groups based on leukocyte abundance. Pediatric presentations include these categories:
- Mild: less than 1500 total eosinophils per cubic millimeter. Without other alterations, it is usually a benign process, so it does not require further studies.
- Moderate: a count of 1,500 to 5,000 eosinophils. If it occurs on at least two separate occasions or for more than a month, it requires study.
- Severe: more than 5000 eosinophils per cubic millimeter of blood. It should be noted that an eosinophilia of more than 20,000 requires hospitalization and, in cases of more than 100,000, immediate admission of the patient and treatment with corticosteroids is essential.
Finally and to end this whole conglomerate of classification, according to its causative agent, eosinophilia is divided in two. It can be primary (by bone marrow mutation) or reactive (by external agents).