Why do eosinophils increase in the blood of a child. Causes of elevated eosinophils in the blood of a child

Any deviations from the norm in the blood test in children alarm parents. After the examination, many mothers have a question: “What does the condition indicate when eosinophils in the blood of a child are elevated?”. Is it worth worrying about such a violation and what diseases the increased level of eosinophils indicates, we will consider in detail in the article.

These granulocytes are formed in the human bone marrow. After entering the bloodstream, they are located in the capillaries or various tissues, in particular, in the respiratory, digestive or dermis. In the systemic circulation are contained in a relatively small amount. Cells move around the body in an amoeboid way. This helps them find the right pathogen that needs to be neutralized.

If a patient has a high concentration of this type of leukocytes during a general blood test, it is imperative to look for the cause of such a deviation, because this may indicate the presence of serious diseases, including malignant tumors.

Consultation with a specialist is required not only with an increased level of eosinophils, but also with a decrease in the concentration of these bodies in the blood of a person.

Increased performance in a child

Eosinophils in the body in children or adults are determined using a special formula. By using it, it is possible to calculate the percentage of these cells in relation to the total number of leukocytes. Normal indicators are shown in the table.

A condition in which a patient has an elevated level of eosinophils is called eosinophilia in medical practice. In turn, the disease is divided into several types. The reactive type is accompanied by an increase in granulocytes up to 15%. Moderate type - an increase in cells to a level of 15-20%. High eosinophilia is accompanied by an increase in leukocytes above 20%.

In a severe course of a disease in a child, the number of eosinophils can reach 50% or more. This indicates an active pathological process.

During the procedure, blood is taken from the ring finger. The sampling of biological material is carried out early in the morning on an empty stomach. If the patient took food, this may distort the results of the study. The diagnosis is made by the doctor, taking into account the blood test and the presence of certain complaints in the patient. It is impossible to identify a specific disease only by a blood test.

A general blood test is prescribed for children or adults in the presence of any health disorders. A laboratory test may be performed if the patient has the following symptoms:

A general blood test helps to identify certain deviations from the norm, with the help of which it is possible to suspect various diseases and send the patient for additional examination for diagnosis.

Deciphering the results

The interpretation of the results of the study should be carried out exclusively by a specialist. Only a doctor with special knowledge can suspect a particular disease in a patient. The specialist evaluates the data obtained during the analysis in a complex. If it is not possible to make a diagnosis on the basis of a general blood test and the patient's complaints, the patient must be sent for further medical examination.

There are certain diseases in which the patient has an increase in leukocytes. Let's look at them in more detail:

Treatment is prescribed by the doctor in accordance with the diagnosis, the severity of the pathology and the child's complaints.

The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the greater the chances of its successful therapy. In this regard, children and adults are recommended to take a preventive blood test twice a year.

Other causes of violation

As medical statistics show, in an infant or child at an older age, an increase in the level of this type of leukocytes most often indicates the presence of an allergic reaction or helminthic invasions in the body. At the same time, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, lymphocytes and some other cells can also be increased. Another indicator of the presence of an infection and an inflammatory process is an excess of ESR, that is, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. To make a diagnosis, the doctor considers all indicators in the complex. For example, the cationic protein of eosinophils may be elevated, but the rest of the indicators are normal. The most common causes of eosinophilia include:

• Magnesium deficiency in the body.
• The presence of benign or malignant tumors.
• Polycythemia.
• Systemic diseases such as lupus erythematosus, rheumatism, psoriasis.
• Infectious mononucleosis.
• Bacterial infections (pneumonia, tonsillitis, scarlet fever and others).
• Tuberculosis, vasculitis.
• Extensive burns.
• Impaired thyroid function.
• Congenital heart defects.
• Transferring the removal of the spleen.

In addition, in an infant or older child, high eosinophils can be observed after taking certain medications, in particular antibiotics, hormones, sulfonamides, and others.

Separate types of eosinophilia should include a deviation, which is caused by a patient's hereditary predisposition. After severe infections, the level of leukocytes may remain high for an even longer period.

How does the deviation manifest itself in children?

In newborn babies, as well as children 3,6,7 years old and older, eosinophilia is not accompanied by any specific manifestations. The clinical picture will include only signs of the disease that provoked a high content of granulocytes. In this case, the symptoms can be of the most diverse nature:

• Increase in body temperature.
• Headache.
• Nausea. Vomiting, upset stool.
• Pain in muscles and joints.
• Allergic reactions on the skin.
• Cough.
• Sore throat.
• Nasal congestion, tearing and more.

What to do?

What should parents do if their child has an increase in the concentration of eosinophils? First of all, you need to contact your doctor. Only a person with the necessary knowledge will be able to suspect a particular disease, given which cells of the blood composition are increased and which, on the contrary, are lowered.

If necessary, the specialist will prescribe a further examination, which will help to find out the cause of the deviation.

Features of the treatment of eosinophilia

Therapy in a child or adult with an increase in leukocytes in the blood will depend entirely on the disease that provoked the violation:

As a rule, after neutralization of the underlying disease, the patient's leukocyte formula recovers independently without auxiliary treatment.

Why is an increase in eosinophils dangerous?

The danger for the child's body is not the increase in the level of leukocytes itself, but the disease that provoked it. This means that any pathology should be treated competently and in a timely manner. In this regard, with the development of any alarming health symptoms, it is urgent to consult a doctor.

Video

The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Olegovich Komarovsky spoke in more detail about the decoding of a blood test in children.

The eosinophil as a separate cellular element was first described by the German immunologist, the founder of chemotherapy, Paul Ehrlich in 1879. The reasons for the increase in the blood in children and adults of these cells are still the object of clinical research, although over the past century mankind has made significant progress in this area.

Human blood consists of a liquid part (plasma), platelets and leukocytes. The latter, in turn, are divided into 5 types, each of which performs its specific functions.

Types of leukocytes:

• basophils - are involved in blood clotting and immune responses;
• neutrophils - fight bacteria and purify the blood by absorbing dead cells;
• monocytes - destroy harmful microorganisms;
• lymphocytes - fight viruses and infections;
• eosinophils - react to antigen-antibody immune complexes (fight of immunoglobulins with foreign elements).

Eosinophils appear at 8 weeks of fetal development. For more than a day, they mature in the bone marrow, after which they enter the bloodstream, where they stay for about 10 hours.

Then they are located in the tissues:

• skin;
• lungs;
• gastrointestinal tract;
• lower urinary tract;
• uterus.

If a foreign object has entered the body, eosinophils are the first to migrate to the place of danger and are located along the edges of the inflammation focus. These cells contain granules that contain large amounts of chemicals, such as large basic proteins or unique alkaline polypeptides.

They perform the protective functions of the body. The complete consumption of granule resources is called degranulation (in this case, the cell dies). Its “death” occurs instantly, and if degranulation does not occur, then life expectancy is about two weeks.

What do eosinophils show in a blood test?

Eosinophils are elevated in a child in the blood (the reasons for this situation are ambiguous, since an increase in the number of these cells is not a specific disease), usually with the course of various diseases. To find out what kind of ailment this symptom indicates, it is necessary, first of all, to take a general blood test (in the morning and on an empty stomach).

One of the reasons for such rules is the change in the number of eosinophils during the day (it decreases during the day, reaches its maximum at night).

Despite the fact that the role of this type of leukocytes in the human body remains completely unexplored, the tasks that are known today are a pointer to the search for a possible cause of pathological changes.

Immune defense of the body

Eosinophils are a kind of blood soldiers that fight various pathogens in the body:

Eosinophils increase the survival of mast cells, the life span of bone marrow plasma, activate the work of neutrophils and macrophages, in a word, they are a kind of catalyst (conductor) of chemical reactions in the human body.

Neutralization of metabolites (decay products in living cells)

Eosinophils try to prevent antigen from entering the bloodstream. They are the first to migrate to the site of the appearance of the antigen, delimit the affected area with the help of necrosis (tissue death) or fibrosis (appearance of scar tissue at the site of the defect) and activate the work of other cells (neutrophils, T-lymphocytes, mast cells).

What an eosinophil cell looks like in real form can be found in this video:

Together, they create the so-called general immune response, that is, an allergic reaction, which can be externally represented as asthma, dermatitis or rhinitis. So the body sends a signal to the owner that pathological processes are occurring in it. But what do eosinophils neutralize?

This type of leukocytes outside the affected area (which they also delimited) neutralize the metabolites involved in the destruction of the allergen. They also control the excessive release of histamine (this substance is responsible for the instantaneous allergic reaction).

Eosinophils protect against inappropriate use of cells, so that useless mass degranulation of the latter does not occur when fighting a small amount of foreign antigen.

There are cases when allergic manifestations are visible to the naked eye, and eosinophils in the blood test do not go beyond the reference values. This situation arises because the number of cells migrating to the site of injury at low doses of allergens is sufficient to create an immune response.

Tissue reconstruction and regeneration

In addition to destructive reactions, eosinophils are capable of repairing mast cells.(also known as mast cells), which are found in connective tissues. A therapist or pediatrician with an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood of a child will immediately suspect the intake of a foreign protein into the body or excessive production of histamine.

The relative value in clinical analysis is the percentage of white blood cells, where the total number of leukocytes is taken as 100%. This is what is usually used by various laboratories.

Below is a table of average eosinophil values ​​according to patient age:

Age	Absolute value of eosinophils ×10 9 /l	Relative importance of eosinophils
Children less than 2 weeks old	0.02-0.6×10 9 /l	from 1 to 6%
Children under 1 year old	0.05-0.7×10 9 /l	from 1 to 5%
Children 1-2 years old	0.02-0.7×10 9 /l	from 1 to 6%
Children 2-5 years old	0.02 - 0.7×10 9 /l	from 1 to 6%
Children over 5 years old	0 - 0.6×10 9 /l	from 1 to 5%
adults	0 - 0.45×10 9 /l	from 1 to 5%

Anything above the reference values ​​is called eosinophilia, and anything below is called eosinopenia.

The situation in which 15% or more of these cells are found in the blood is called hypereosinophilia. Possessing high information content, this study, when collecting an anamnesis of absolutely any disease, is able to indicate to a specialist what all the forces of the body are thrown at (to fight or to protect).

Causes of elevated eosinophils in the blood of a child

Eosinophils are elevated in the child's blood (the causes of this phenomenon in 90% of children aged from one to 10 years are the same), as a rule, in three cases:

Eosinophilia as a concomitant symptom of the disease can manifest itself in metastatic or necrosis malignant tumors. Unfortunately, it is not possible to detect and diagnose cancer in time by a blood test with this symptom.

Clinical picture

In the initial stages, various diseases accompanied by eosinophilia are usually asymptomatic. and are found randomly. However, there are some indirect signs in which an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood can be suspected.

• fatigue;
• cough;
• dyspnea;
• chest pain;
• muscle pain and swelling;
• visual impairment;
• diarrhea;
• skin rash;
• fever.

All of them, of course, do not necessarily indicate eosinophilia, but accompany diseases for which it is characteristic (severe forms of pleurisy, hepatitis, dermatitis).

In patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome, abbreviated as HES (a fairly large group of diseases characterized by elevated levels of eosinophils in the blood), anomalies are present on echocardiography, even in patients who do not have any clinical manifestations of the disease.

There are also changes in the tissues and in the vascular system: necrosis, fibrosis, thrombosis.

In severe cases, lesions are possible:

• hearts;
• central and peripheral nervous system;
• lungs;
• gastrointestinal tract.

What to do with eosinophilia?

Eosinophils are elevated in a child's blood (the causes can be hidden even in such serious diseases as leukemia or Quincke's edema), when the body is not able to overcome the disease on its own and immediate treatment is required, based on an accurate diagnosis of the problem.

To begin with, it is necessary to exclude helminthic invasion and recent infectious diseases. To do this, the patient must pass the feces on the eggs of the worm and remember the treatment of all ailments over the past month. If helminthiasis and infection are not confirmed, then allergy should be suspected.

The standard study in this case will be the determination in the patient's blood (taken from a vein on an empty stomach) of the so-called immunoglobulin E (IgE). If the level of its content is increased, then the second step on the path to recovery will be the determination of the allergens themselves (the root causes of skin manifestations and swelling of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasal cavity).

However, it is worth considering that skin allergy tests are done to children older than 3 years., and in infants up to six months, these analyzes will be uninformative, since immune cells at this age are at the stage of formation. Predisposition to diseases in newborns is checked by cord blood, including allergies.

There are more serious reasons for the increase in blood eosinophils. For example, infiltration (penetration into tissues) of the lungs. In order to diagnose it, it is necessary to take an x-ray or undergo computed tomography (a more accurate study).

If heart failure is suspected, in addition to the ECG, it is better to take a myocardial biopsy, since changes may not be reflected in the electrocardiogram. To determine malignant tumors accompanied by eosinophilia, the affected tissue is sent for histological examination.

Medical therapy. Dosing regimen

If a child has elevated eosinophils in the blood, you need to contact an immunologist-allergist or a general practitioner to start medical treatment immediately.

Below are the regimens for taking drugs, taking into account the reasons and age category (dosages are calculated for children):

Regardless of the reasons for the increase in eosinophils in the blood, as well as in severe eosinophilic asthma, mepolizumab is used. The drug is administered intravenously in a volume of 100 mg every 4 weeks under the supervision of an experienced medical professional.

The dosage can be increased to 750 mg, but the safety of the drug in children remains not fully understood.

Treatment with folk remedies. Recipes

Eosinophils are elevated in the child's blood (the reasons must be established directly by the doctor) due to the fact that some pathological processes occur in the body: in most cases, in childhood, these are allergies or worms.

It is against them that the struggle with folk remedies will be directed., because in the absence of foreign antibodies and allergens, the number of eosinophils in the clinical blood test will return to its reference values.

Diseases	Symptoms	Recipe
Allergy of any type, including drug	Strong itching. Skin rash and redness. Runny nose. Dry allergic cough. Peeling of the skin. Increased tearing. Inflammation of the mucous membranes.	1 tsp dilute white clay in a glass of water. Consume on an empty stomach, before meals.
seasonal allergies		In a glass, brew a string and add an infusion of motherwort, valerian in a weak concentration. Gargle every time after the street.
Bronchial asthma	Nasal congestion. Dry cough.	1. In a small bag, 10 × 10 can be filled with hop cones. Put the following herbs there: a sprig of St. John's wort; valerian; mint; nettle; thyme; oregano; several hawthorn flowers. Breathe herbs for asthma attacks or coughing. Tip: you can sew a small pillow! Important: do not abuse the infusion of wormwood!

To combat eosinophilia and to maintain general immunity, hirudotherapy is perfect in other words, treatment with leeches. The saliva of these annelids contains a secret, which includes hirudin (a substance containing up to 65 amino acids).

The composition of the patient's blood is updated and enriched with amino acids, and, as a result, the level of eosinophils returns to normal.

Possible Complications

Long-term presence of eosinophilia, along with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL), can cause damage to the heart (the mechanism of migration to the heart is not fully understood). This complication is quite common and can lead to the death of the patient.

Infiltration of tissues with eosinophils is the cause of damage to the lungs, the central and peripheral nervous system, and the brain, which, if not treated in time, can also lead to the death of the patient.

Symptoms in this case will be:

• memory impairment;
• cough and choking;
• convulsions;
• unreasonable changes in behavior;
• ataxia (erratic movement);
• muscle atrophy;
• intracranial hemorrhage.

In severe cases, an increase in this type of leukocytes in the blood indicates the presence of a secondary focus of a malignant neoplasm and an irreversible process of dying of a part of the tissue (cancer with metastases and necrosis).

Thus, it is necessary not only to take eosinophils with all seriousness, but also to begin to control their level in the blood, especially in children, and if pathological changes (increase or decrease) are detected, immediately consult a doctor and start looking for the root cause.

Article formatting: E. Chaikina

Useful video about eosinophils

The plot of the causes of allergic rhinitis and methods for diagnosing it:

What does the level of eosinophils indicate

Eosinophils are a special subspecies of leukocytes - white blood cells. A characteristic feature of cells is considered to be the presence of granules in the cytoplasm and the ability to stain with acidic dyes. Segmented cells are involved in the formation of antibodies (lg E) and the creation of immune defense mechanisms during the period of the disease.

Upon contact with foreign microorganisms, eosinophils decompose and secrete rather aggressive substances that destroy the structure of the pathogen, and then absorb and digest the destroyed cells. In addition, granulocytes regulate the intensity of inflammatory processes and are involved in the restoration of tissues that have been attacked by “outsiders”.

The growth of segmented cells is characteristic of weakened, often ill children with poor immunity, observed in liver pathologies and disorders of the endocrine system.

Norms

The concentration of eosinophils in newborn babies is always slightly higher than in adults. With age, this figure decreases, and after 6 years it can approach zero.

The change in the norm of eosinophils in children is shown in the table:

The number of eosinophils can fluctuate throughout the day - at night, the concentration of cells is highest. The lowest content of granulocytes is observed in the morning and evening: almost a quarter less than the average daily rate. Such a run-up in values ​​is explained by the peculiarities of the work of the adrenal glands.

To make the result of a leukocyte analysis more reliable, donate blood should be in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Eosinophilia

They say about eosinophilia when the level of granulocytes in the blood of a child exceeds 320 cells in 0.001 ml or 4%. This is a rather serious deviation from the norm, in which damage to organs and tissues can develop.

Classification

In children, eosinophilia can occur in different forms:

• reactive;
• primary;
• family.

The first type is the most common and is manifested by a moderate (5–15%) increase in granulocytes. In newborns, it can be a reaction to medications or a consequence of intrauterine infections. In an older child, reactive eosinophilia develops as a symptom of the disease.

The primary type in children is rare and is accompanied by damage to the internal organs. Hereditary excess of eosinophils occurs at a very early age and quickly becomes chronic.

In some serious pathologies, the concentration of granulocytic cells can be 35-50%

Causes

Elevated eosinophils in the blood of a child are a companion of many diseases. The cause of the violation is most often allergic conditions and helminthic invasions. In these cases, the baby, as a rule, has reactive eosinophilia.

In infants, eosinophils can be elevated in the following diseases:

• staphylococcal infection;
• incompatibility with the mother according to the Rh factor;
• pemphigus;
• eosinophilic colitis;
• atopic dermatitis;
• hemolytic disease of the newborn.

If eosinophils are elevated in an older child, this may indicate other pathologies:

• bronchial asthma;
• scarlet fever;
• allergic type rhinitis;
• chickenpox;
• gonococcal infection;
• lack of magnesium.

In a separate group, eosinophilia caused by a hereditary factor is distinguished. In addition, an increased content of eosinophils may be present in the blood of a child who has recently undergone a serious illness or operation. After such conditions, granulocytic cells remain active for a long time.

An eosinophilic cationic protein test will help determine what exactly caused the violation. If the indicator is elevated, the baby is more likely to suffer from allergies. A parallel increase in monocytes indicates the development of helminthic invasions.

Associated symptoms

Since eosinophilia is not an independent disease, but a symptom, its manifestations repeat the clinical picture of the underlying pathological process. The child may have a fever, joint pain, anemia, interruptions in heart rate, loss of appetite, enlargement of the liver.

With an allergic syndrome, a small patient will suffer from itching and skin irritation, runny nose, and watery eyes. If the growth of granulocytic cells is caused by worms, the child's body weight decreases, weakness and nausea begin to torment him, and sleep is disturbed.

In children, a predisposition to the development of "large" eosinophilia is more pronounced than in adults (35–50% with significant leukocytosis). This group includes several forms of malaise with unknown etiology, united by the term "infectious eosinophilia".

Such a significant deviation from the norm is manifested by an acute onset, fever, inflammation of the nasopharynx, dyspepsia, multiple pains in the joints, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen.

Descriptions of tropical eosinophilia are known, which are characterized by asthmatic-type dyspnea, persistent dry cough, fever, infiltrates in the lungs, and the level of granulocytes up to 80%. Most medical professionals recognize the invasive nature of this condition.

Why is it dangerous

What can lead to a prolonged increase in eosinophils in the blood of a child? The most dangerous form of malaise in terms of consequences and complications is primary eosinophilia. It is often accompanied by damage to vital organs: the liver, lungs, heart, brain. Excessive impregnation of tissues with granulocytic cells leads to their compaction and disruption of functionality.

Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of eosinophilia depend on the type of pathology that caused this condition. You should know that when the level of eosinophils is exceeded by more than 20%, the so-called hypereosinophilic syndrome develops. When it occurs, the internal organs of the child are affected: the heart, brain and lungs.

In dermatological diseases, eosinophilia can manifest itself in the form of:

• dermatitis;
• lichen;
• eczema;
• pemphigus and other dermatological diseases.

Also, a reaction to eosinophilia can be laryngeal edema or rhinitis.

In general, the rate of eosinophils in the body of a child directly depends on his age:

• up to two weeks of age, the norm of eosinophils is 1-6%;
• from two weeks of age to 1 year, the norm varies from 1 to 5%;
• from 1 year to 2 years - 1-7%;
• from 2 to 5 years - 1-6%;
• after 5 years - 1-5%.

Diagnosis of eosinophilia in a child

Eosinophilia in a child is diagnosed by analyzing peripheral blood. Also, the doctor clarifies the history of the disease, learns about the presence of allergic reactions, recent travel, the use of certain medications.

As diagnostic examinations are used:

• urine and stool tests;
• x-ray of the respiratory system;
• serological examination;
• diagnosis of the liver and kidneys.

It is extremely important to find the cause of the pathology. Otherwise, it will be impossible to prescribe an effective and correct treatment.

Manifestations and certain types of eosinophilia as an independent pathology

The symptoms of eosinophilia as such cannot be distinguished, because it is not an independent disease, but in some cases of the secondary nature of elevated eosinophils, the symptoms and complaints of patients are very similar.

allergic reactions manifested by itching of the skin (urticaria), blistering, swelling of the tissues of the neck (Quincke's edema), a characteristic urticarial rash, in severe cases, collapse, a sharp drop in blood pressure, exfoliation of skin areas and shock are possible.

Digestive tract lesions with eosinophilia are accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, stool disorders in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, pain and discomfort in the abdomen, discharge of blood or pus with feces in colitis, etc. Symptoms are not associated with an increase in eosinophils, but with a specific disease of the gastrointestinal intestinal tract, the clinic of which comes to the fore.

Signs of tumor pathology, leading to eosinophilia due to damage to the lymph nodes and bone marrow (leukemia, lymphoma, paraproteinemia) - fever, weakness, weight loss, pain and aches in the joints, muscles, enlargement of the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, a tendency to infectious and inflammatory diseases.

As an independent pathology, eosinophilia is extremely rare, while the lungs are considered the most frequent localization of tissue accumulation of eosinophilic leukocytes. Pulmonary eosinophilia combines eosinophilic vasculitis, pneumonia, granulomatosis, the formation of eosinophilic infiltrates.

skin hemorrhages accompanied by eosinophilia

In the lungs with Leffler's syndrome, accumulations of eosinophils are formed, which resolve themselves without leaving consequences, so the pathology ends with a complete recovery. When listening in the lungs, wheezing can be detected. In the general blood test, against the background of multiple eosinophilic infiltrates in the lungs, detected by radiography, leukocytosis and eosinophilia appear, sometimes reaching 60-70%. The X-ray picture of the lesion of the lung tissue persists for up to a month.

In countries with a hot climate (India, the African continent), the so-called tropical eosinophilia occurs, in which infiltrates also appear in the lungs, the number of leukocytes and eosinophils increases in the blood. The infectious nature of the pathology is assumed. The course of tropical eosinophilia is chronic with relapses, but spontaneous recovery is possible.

With pulmonary localization of eosinophilic infiltrates, these cells are found not only in peripheral blood, but also in secretions from the respiratory tract. Eosinophilia of sputum and mucus from the nasal cavity is characteristic of Loeffler's syndrome, tropical eosinophilia, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, hay fever.

Muscles, including the myocardium, can become another possible localization of tissue eosinophilic infiltrates. With endomyocardial fibrosis, connective tissue grows under the inner layer of the heart and in the myocardium, the cavities decrease in volume, and heart failure increases. Biopsy of the heart muscle shows the presence of fibrosis and eosinophilic impregnation.

Eosinophilic myositis can act as an independent pathology. It is characterized by muscle damage of an inflammatory nature with increasing eosinophilia in the blood.

Causes of an increase in eosinophils in the blood

Why are eosinophils elevated in an adult, what does this mean? Eosinophils above normal cause a special condition of the body, which is called eosinophilia. There are various degrees of this disease:

• Light - cell count reaches 10%
• Medium - 10 to 15% eosinophils
• Severe form - more than 15 percent. This degree of the disease can be expressed by oxygen starvation at the cellular or tissue level.

In medical practice, there is the most common and easy-to-remember abbreviation, which makes it quite easy to remember the most famous causes of eosinophilia.

In more rare cases, other diseases become the cause of an increase in eosinophils:

1. Acute leukemia.
2. Tuberculosis.
3. hereditary eosinophilia.
4. Rheumatic fever (rheumatism).
5. Exudative reactions of various origins.
6. Vagotonia (irritation of the vagus nerve), vegetative-vascular dystonia.
7. Reduced functional ability of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

You need to know that these cells do not always benefit the body. Fighting an infection, they can provoke an allergy themselves. When the number of eosinophils exceeds 5% of the total number of leukocytes, not only eosinophilia is formed. In the place of accumulation of these cells, inflammatory tissue changes are formed. According to this principle, rhinitis and swelling of the larynx often occur in children.

Methods for diagnosing symptoms

A complex of tests and biological studies helps to diagnose blood eosinophilia, the most important of which is a complete blood count. With the development of this pathology, a change in the level of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the blood is observed. However, in addition to this, you must:

• conduct a biochemical blood test and urinalysis;
• take a swab or cavities of the nose and mouth;
• instrumental examination of the kidneys and liver;
• radiography of the respiratory system;
• bronchoscopy;
• if you suspect the presence of infiltrates in the articular bags, make a puncture of the joints;
• exclude the presence of oncological diseases by detecting special markers;
• serological examination, which determines the presence of helminths and connective tissue pathology;
• do a stool test for worm eggs.

It is important to conduct all possible types of research to determine the factor and cause that causes an increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood. Timely diagnosis will help to avoid the development of pathology.

After a detailed examination, you will need to consult an allergist who will conduct special testing using allergens and standard sera. Confirm or reject the suspicion of the presence of bronchial asthma.

Symptoms of eosinophilia are recognized:

• sudden, significant weight loss;
• discoloration of the skin, their dryness and tension;
• severe anemia;
• periodic increase in body temperature;
• congestive heart failure;
• lesions of veins and arteries of an inflammatory nature;
• pulmonary fibrosis;
• severe joint pain.

In addition, when pathologies associated with helminthic invasion are detected, there may be violations of the functionality of the digestive organs, the spleen increases, and liver parameters change. The patient reports to the doctor about lack of appetite, constant nausea and occasional vomiting.

Blood pressure drops, the pulse quickens, swelling appears on the face and skin, a rash appears. In the future, severe malaise develops, the skin becomes icteric, a tumor appears around the navel, the intestinal flora changes, and the level of intoxication increases.

Etiology

The main reason for the progression of eosinophilia in humans is the presence in the body of various kinds of diseases, including:

The norm of eosinophils is determined in a blood test by counting the leukocyte formula. The level of such cells is expressed as a percentage of the total number of white cells.

The upper limit of the norm for children is:

• Not more than 5% of eosinophils under the age of one year (in newborns up to the 10th day of life, the upper limit will be 4%).
• Not more than 4% of eosinophils in children who are already 1 year old.

If eosinophils are elevated in the blood of a child, this condition is called eosinophilia. It is reactive (small) when the level of these white blood cells rises to a maximum of 15%. Moderate eosinophilia is also isolated if this type of leukocyte makes up 15-20% of all white blood cells. With an indicator of more than 20%, they speak of high eosinophilia. In some children with an active pathological process, eosinophils represent 50% of all leukocytes or even more.

Allergy

Elevated eosinophils serve as an indicator of acute or chronic allergic processes developing in the body. In Russia, allergy is the most common cause of an increase in eosinophils in the blood of a child.

In addition to elevated eosinophils, food allergy is characterized by leukopenia, a high level of IgE immunoglobulins in the child's blood, and the presence of EO in fecal mucus.

There is a relationship between the degree of eosinophilia and the severity of allergy symptoms:

• with an increase in EO to 7-8% - slight reddening of the skin, slight itching, swollen lymph nodes to a "pea", IgE 150 - 250 IU / l;
• EO increased to 10% - severe itching, the appearance of cracks, crusts on the skin, a pronounced increase in lymph nodes, IgE 250 - 500 IU / l;
• EO more than 10% - constant itching that disturbs the child's sleep, extensive skin lesions with deep cracks, an increase in several lymph nodes to the size of a "bean", IgE more than 500 IU / l.

Increased eosinophils in pollinosis - an allergic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, trachea, bronchi, conjunctiva of the eyes. Pollinosis is manifested by swelling of the mucous membranes, runny nose, sneezing, swelling of the eyelids, nasal congestion.

An increased level of eosinophils in pollinosis is found not only in the peripheral blood, but also in the mucous membranes in the foci of inflammation.

allergy to vaccination

An increase in eosinophilic granulocytes may occur in children as a result of an allergic reaction to vaccination. Sometimes, diseases that are not related to the introduction of the vaccine are sometimes taken as signs of a complication of vaccination.

The fact that eosinophils are elevated in a child precisely because of the introduction of a vaccine is indicated by the appearance of symptoms of a complication no later than:

• after 2 days for vaccinations with ADS, DTP, ADS-C - vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus;
• 14 days with the introduction of measles vaccination, symptoms of complications appear more often on the 5th day after vaccination;
• 3 weeks when vaccinated against mumps;
• 1 month after polio vaccination.

An immediate complication of vaccination is anaphylactic shock, accompanied by increased eosinophils, leukocytes, erythrocytes, neutrophils. Anaphylactic shock to vaccination develops in the first 15 minutes after the administration of the drug, manifests itself in a child:

• restlessness, anxiety;
• frequent weak pulse;
• shortness of breath;
• pallor of the skin.

Treatment of eosinophilia in an adult

In order to determine the disease that provoked eosinophilia, in addition, along with the collection of a clinical blood test, patients are also analyzed for biochemistry. Treatment is usually carried out by a hematologist. Such a disease is not considered an independent disease, but is only a pronounced symptom of another disease; therefore, it is necessary to treat its original cause.

First you need to determine for what reason the number of white blood cells has increased, and then carry out therapeutic measures, including the appointment of medications with physiotherapy. The choice of different methods of treatment is carried out, focusing on the actual physical condition of the patient, on the nature of his illness, on his age, health, and other concomitant diseases.

It happens that for a cure, on the contrary, it is necessary to stop taking medications.

If rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, a bronchoscopy will be needed. Often the attending physician prescribes a specialized treatment course, which includes: painkillers, drugs to reduce swelling, drugs that eliminate a pronounced allergic reaction.

The main direction of healing lies in the elimination of the pathogen itself - the source of the disease. The course may have a different duration, depending on the results, it will be regularly adjusted, or even completely changed.

Along with drug therapy, physiotherapy and herbal medicine are often used in treatment. In addition, a specialized diet may be prescribed by a doctor.

It is necessary to carry out periodic monitoring of blood tests in the clinic in order to prevent an increase in the level of eosinophils in an adult. Always such an increase means the presence of a serious illness. When there are other additional signs, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The process of eosinophilia itself cannot be overcome; only the disease that provoked it can be cured.

Features of a reduced level of protective cells in the blood during pregnancy

In some cases, a decrease in eosinophils during pregnancy is perceived as the norm, because in this situation, the natural immunity of a woman is significantly suppressed so that her body does not start rejecting the fetus. However, if the patient's blood contains a low eosinophilic level, then she will also definitely need to undergo a series of additional studies in order to make sure that there are no harmful cells or bacteria in the blood.

Features of low eosinophil in pregnant women

Also, it should be noted that eosinophil may be completely absent in the blood of the expectant mother, up to 14 days after childbirth. After all, as mentioned earlier, this leukocyte cell tends to decrease with pain, which in a given period of time are present in the body in excess.

Classification

There are three degrees of eosinophilia:

1. Small (up to 10% of the total number of eosinophils).
2. Moderate (10−20%).
3. High eosinophilia (above 20%).

According to the causes of occurrence and localization of manifestations, the following forms of eosinophilia are distinguished:

The disease of an allergic nature occurs as a result of the release of a high concentration of histamine and chemotoxic eosinophilic factor by mast cells. There is an increased migration of eosinophilic cells to the epicenter of an allergic reaction.

Autoimmune eosinophilia is diagnosed by ruling out other possible allergic disorders. The clinical criterion in this case is the occurrence of hypatosplenomegaly, congestive heart failure, the appearance of organic heart murmurs. In patients diagnosed with autoimmune eosinophilia, focal symptoms of impaired brain function, weight loss, and febrile syndrome are observed.

Eosinophilia, which occurs with limited inflammatory processes in tissues or in certain structures, proceeds with certain features. For example, eosinophilic myositis is a voluminous neoplasm that has a clear localization in one of the muscle groups. The symptoms of such eosinophilia are muscle pain, which leads to a febrile syndrome and impaired performance.

Eosinophilic fasciitis is clinically similar to scleroderma. There are lesions of the skin and face. Eosinophilia of this type is characterized by a progressive course and is amenable to hormonal treatment.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis has not been fully studied to date. The disease is difficult to define, since it does not have specific clinical manifestations that distinguish it from other ailments. This form of eosinophilia can be detected by detecting Charcot-Leyden crystals in the patient's stool.

Eosinophilic cystitis can be established with a long absence of the effect of therapy. Its etiopathogenetic factor cannot be determined.

The occurrence of eosinophilia in oncological neoplasms is associated with a tumor lesion of the digestive organs and the lymphatic system. It should be noted that eosinophilic cells are determined both in the blood and in the tumor substrate.

Pulmonary eosinophilia combines several pathologies that differ in clinical course, but have a common localization. Therefore, it is quite difficult to determine this form of eosinophilia.

The disease with bronchial asthma occurs with a long course of this disease. Often, the disease manifests itself in women and is accompanied by an increase in the number of focal and infiltrative changes that are progressive.

In the scientific literature, you can find photos of eosinophilia of various forms.

How to detect in a child?

Eosinophilia in children is detected during a complete blood count. It should be noted that such a phenomenon in babies is intermittent and disappears immediately after the baby's body weight reaches a normal value.

In the absence of treatment or its late onset, eosinophilia causes certain complications, the main of which is organ damage. The skin, lungs and organs of the digestive, cardiac and nervous systems can be seriously affected.

The main manifestations of the disease

Eosinophilia in a child manifests itself depending on what disease caused it.

The most dangerous is the increase in the level of cells above twenty percent. In this case, hypereosinophilic syndrome is diagnosed.

In this condition, serious damage to vital organs occurs:

• hearts;
• lungs;
• brain.

If the cause of the disease was an autoimmune disease, then:

• the child loses weight, suffers from anemia;

• a rash appears on the skin;
• there are pains in the joints;
• vascular walls become inflamed.

• there is an increase in the liver and spleen;
• lymph nodes increase and become painful;
• appetite worsens;
• there are headaches, nausea, swelling, weakness.

With eosinophilia caused by allergies, a rash, blisters appear on the skin, which is accompanied by itching and peeling of the skin.

What do eosinophils show in a blood test?

As a rule, eosinophils are elevated in a child due to the active entry of a foreign protein into the bloodstream. Changes in indicators occur in various pathological conditions. Eosinophils can indicate the following dangerous diseases:

1. infections (bacterial, viral or helminthic infection);
2. allergies;
3. inflammation in organs and tissues;
4. cancers;
5. pathology of the immune system.

If eosinophils are lowered in a clinical blood test, then this condition is called eosinopenia. It indicates the exhaustion of the body. As a rule, a similar condition occurs in a child and an adult due to stress of various origins:

• the initial stage of the development of infectious diseases;
• the patient's condition after the surgery;
• mechanical and thermal injuries;
• sepsis.

If eosinophils have dropped sharply, then we can argue about the presence of dysentery, typhoid fever or appendicitis in an acute form.

The volume of eosinophils in a child and in an adult may slightly decrease and be permanent. Such signs are typical for people with Down syndrome and those who constantly do not get enough sleep.

In addition, eosinopenia is a characteristic feature of corticosteroid hormone therapy. After all, due to the release of the adrenal glands, there is a weak production of eosinophils in the morning. Also, when taking hormonal drugs in a child and an adult, such a side effect as reduced production of these cells may occur.

Diagnosis in adults

Now you know: eosinophilia - what it is. It should be noted that to detect such a deviation, it is only necessary to do a general blood test. In the course of such a study, the specialist calculates the percentage of eosinophils, so that the attending physician can make a diagnosis.

With this pathological condition, signs of anemia may also be observed (that is, the number of red blood cells is reduced in the blood). To identify the disease that led to eosinophilia, a biochemical analysis of blood, as well as feces and urine, should be performed.

What to do with a low level of eosinophils?

Reduced eosinophil in the blood is a clinical condition of a person, indicating the presence in his body of any disease that caused this phenomenon. Based on this, we can safely say that there is simply no specific therapy for eosinopenia.

First of all, if the doctor, having taken the patient's blood for analysis, finds that the eosinophil cell does not show normal activity, then he must prescribe several additional procedures for her that can determine the cause of eosinopenia. The only universal method of therapy that can be applied in this case, before the detection of pathology, is medicines that help strengthen immunity.

Also, it should be noted that if the eosinophil ceased to enter the blood normally due to external factors (stress, overstrain, etc.), then no therapy will help, since with such a phenomenon, the body of a pregnant woman will restore the balance of leukocytes, after a short rest. For faster sedation, the patient can take special drugs that do not affect the blood and its composition. However, remember that it is also not worth abusing drugs in a pregnant position, because this will negatively affect the future health of the child.

If the eosinophil cell has a low level due to any pathology that occurs in the body of the expectant mother, then its treatment should be started only at an early stage of development. If treatment is ignored, a reduced eosinophil can be transmitted from mother to child, along with pathologies characteristic of this phenomenon.

In pediatric pediatrics, in order to determine whether a child is healthy or not, a complete blood count is almost always prescribed. Of course, if any of the indicators is exceeded, it always scares parents. But it is the level of eosinophils that is most often responsible for the presence of allergic reactions to certain foods.

Very often in pediatrics they encounter allergies in children. In order to identify an allergic reaction to a certain product or to learn about bacterial and helminthic infections, the pediatrician prescribes a complete blood count. And it is precisely by the level of eosinophils that one can determine whether there is some pathological deviation.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that are responsible for inflammation in the body. Moreover, they are designed to protect the body from toxins and various harmful carriers such as allergens. Like all blood cells, the formation of eosinophils occurs in the bone marrow.

An interesting fact is that it is this type of eosinophils that can, so to speak, "travel" through the body, thereby neutralizing some kind of toxin.

The norm of eosinophils in children

The higher the percentage of eosinophils, the more allergens in the body. It is worth noting that the level in childhood and in adulthood is different. The purpose of eosinophils is to protect the body. And it is the normal level in the blood that speaks of a healthy body.

Optimal percentage:

After 16 years, the indicator can already be equated to an adult indicator. The number decreases with age. In practice, there were cases when, after the age of six, the level of eosinophils was equal to 0. And then it completely disappeared. This is acceptable and is not considered a deviation.

It is worth noting that during the day, the level of eosinophils can change. This is due to the work of the adrenal glands. And it is at night that the level of eosinophils reaches its maximum mark. And the lowest percentage is in the morning and evening hours. For this reason, it is customary to take a blood test in the morning and on an empty stomach. This is a prerequisite for a correct and correct analysis result.

Causes of elevated eosinophils

Reasons for an increase in eosinophils include:

1. An allergen develops in the body. And it is the increase in eosinophils that indicates this. As a rule, in children this is one of the most common reasons.
2. Worms. There is nothing to be ashamed of for parents if a small child has worms. After all, these are children, they taste everything and pull every toy into their mouths. No matter how mom and dad try to raise a child in cleanliness, unfortunately, sometimes this happens.
3. Various skin diseases. It can be both diaper rash and lichen, which the child could catch from a street cat.
4. Malignant tumors. This is in a more severe form of the disease.
5. Violation of the work of blood vessels and disease of the circulatory system.
6. Deficiency in the blood of such a useful substance as magnesium.

Eosinophils in the blood are elevated in a child

After the child donates blood and if there is an increased level of eosinophils in the analysis. That doctor will definitely prescribe a complete examination. When the level is elevated, and in pediatrics, and in medicine in general, this is called eosinophilia.

Most often, an increase in the level of eosinophils in an infant or a little older indicates an allergic reaction to some kind of product. In this case, allergic spots may be on the child's abdomen or a rash may appear on the child's cheeks. Also, an increased percentage may mean the development of some kind of infectious disease. In addition to all this, there may be a malfunction in the functioning of immunity cells.

Eosinophils in the blood are lowered in a child

A decrease in the level of eosinophils is called in medicine - eosinopenia. Unfortunately, low levels can also indicate some serious diseases:

1. Malfunction of the adrenal glands.
2. The development of bacterial infectious diseases.
3. A decrease can be observed in viral diseases such as SARS, influenza.
4. With low hemoglobin and severe anemia.
5. With a lack of vitamin B12.
6. With poisoning with mercury, arsenic. If the child inhaled these vapors.
7. For burns or injuries.
8. In operations requiring surgical intervention.
9. For thyroid problems. Especially if at the same time the child was prescribed hormonal drugs.
10. Stress, neuroses can also cause a decrease in the percentage of eosinophils.

Possible Complications

With an increased level of eosinophilia, a number of serious diseases can occur, both in infancy and in older children. As a rule, there may be a high temperature, which is not immediately able to bring down. Sometimes there is pain in the joints, but this is in older children. Maybe drop hemoglobin, and begin anemia. Moreover, there may be interruptions in the heart rhythm, there may be a deterioration in appetite and an enlarged liver.

In the case of an allergic reaction, it can also be in infants, skin itching may occur, a rash on the body, a runny nose, eyes will begin to water.

When the level of eosinophils is elevated for a long time, in this case the most dangerous thing that can happen is complications in the work of vital organs. Namely, the liver, spleen, lungs, heart, brain. This reaction refers to the level of primary eosinophilia.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

The well-known pediatrician Evgeny Olegovich is of the opinion that if an increased level of eosinophils does not create discomfort for the child. The kid is cheerful, cheerful, energetic, eats well and sleeps soundly, then no special treatment is required.

If examination and analysis of feces do not reveal any particular pathologies, then you should not worry and worry (again, you should always pay attention to the general condition of the child). After three to four months, a complete blood count can be retaken. Komarovsky claims that very often an elevated level indicates a previously appeared illness, for example, a bacterial one, and when there are no traces of the disease left in the body, the level of eosinophils by itself, without any additional treatment, returns to normal.

If, upon re-analysis, there will again be an increased level of eosinophils, then it makes sense to donate blood for the content of immunoglobulin E. It is this analysis that will help the allergist to determine whether the crumbs have a predisposition to an allergic reaction to some product. Also, the doctor recommends re-taking a stool test.

Prevention

It is difficult to disagree that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat later, albeit not for long. Also in this case, if the level of eosinophils has already been increased at least once, then in the future it is best to do prevention:

1. Be sure to properly organize the daily routine and nutrition of the child.
2. Lead a healthy lifestyle with your child. More often walk in the fresh air, hardening, etc.
3. As a rule, the pediatrician prescribes a complete blood count once every 6 months, for older children - once a year. But for the complete peace of mind of parents, you can take an analysis once every 4 months.
4. Explain to the child that the rules of hygiene must always be observed and monitored for the implementation of these rules.

The health of the child is the most important thing that should require the attention of parents. And the simplest thing that can be done is to timely take the necessary tests that will help identify pathologies, if any, in the body.

The change in the number of eosinophils in the results of the KLA indicates that there is an imbalance between the process of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, the migration of blood cells and their breakdown in the tissues of the body.

Function of eosinophils

The main functions of eosinophils:

• detect and collect information about foreign substances entering the body,
• transmit the received data to the immune system,
• neutralize foreign proteins.

Therefore, it is quite acceptable to increase eosinophils in the blood of children, since they, mastering the world, encounter a large number of new agents for them.

It should be remembered that the concentration of these cells depends on the time of day. At night, their number increases, during the day it normalizes.

Normal indicators and what causes an increase in eosinophils in children

• In newborns - 1-6
• In children up to two weeks of age - 1-6
• From two weeks to one year - 1-5

• From one year to two years - 1-7
• From two to five years - 1-6
• From six to sixteen years old - 1-5

If the indicators are higher, then this condition is called eosinophilia. It is not very good when the analysis showed low eosinophils in the blood of a child. This may signal the initial stage of inflammation, a stressful condition, a purulent infection, or poisoning with any heavy metals or chemicals.

Role in the body

Functions of eosinophils

Places of localization of eosinophils: lungs, capillaries of the skin, gastrointestinal tract.

They fight foreign proteins by absorbing and dissolving them. Their main functions are:

• antihistamine;
• antitoxic;
• phagocytic.

The rate of eosinophils is calculated by determining the level of cells as a percentage of the number of all white bodies. The acceptable level of eosinophils in the blood varies depending on childhood:

• in infants up to one month of age - no more than 6%;
• up to 12 months - no more than 5%;
• from one year to three years of age - no more than 7%;
• from three to six years - no more than 6%;
• from six to twelve years - no more than 5%.

In children older than 12 years, the upper limit of eosinophils should not exceed 5% of the total number of leukocytes.

What are eosinophils

Deviations from the norm

The most common causes of abnormal blood eosinophils in children are allergies and worms. Allergies arise from pet hair, some products, plant pollen.

Angioedema, exudative diathesis, urticaria, asthma, neurodermatitis can provoke an increase in the level of eosinophils.

Eosinophilic cells exceed the norm in the blood if the child has:

• rheumatism;
• scarlet fever;
• psoriasis;
• vasculitis;
• tuberculosis;
• pneumonia;
• hepatitis;
• heart defects.

Deviations from the norm occur after severe burns, surgery to remove the spleen, as well as as a result of taking antibiotics and hormonal drugs. The genetic factor also often causes a high level of leukocyte eosinophils in the blood.

Eosinophil abnormalities

Eosinophilia

An excess of eosinophils in the blood is called eosinophilia. There are the following types of pathology:

1. reactive eosinophilia. The level of cells is increased by no more than 15%.
2. moderate eosinophilia. The excess of the norm from the number of all leukocytes is no more than 20%.
3. high eosinophilia. The number of eosinophilic leukocytes is more than 20%.

With serious pathologies, the excess of the norm can be 50% or more.

Eosinophilia has no characteristic symptoms, the clinical manifestations of the pathology depend on the disease that caused the changes in the blood. The child has a fever, heart failure, joint and muscle pain, weight loss, anemia, skin rashes.

Rash with eosinophilia

If a large number of eosinophilic cells are found in the analyzes of a child, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician. He will prescribe a urine test, scraping for eggs of worms, serological tests. If necessary, the doctor will refer the baby to an allergist and a dermatologist.

Allergy is also accompanied by eosinophilia

Important! If eosinophils are elevated after the treatment, it is recommended to undergo an examination to determine the level of immunoglobulin.

So, the main task of eosinophils is to neutralize pathogenic microorganisms, destroy the histamine produced during allergies. A high level of eosinophils indicates the presence in the child's body of diseases such as dermatitis, rubella, scarlet fever, asthma, and tuberculosis.

With proper diagnosis and treatment of the disease that caused the cause of the increase in the level of cells in the blood, their indicator will soon return to normal.

Eosinophils are one of the types of white blood cells that are constantly produced in the bone marrow. They mature over 3-4 days, after which they circulate in the blood for several hours and move to the tissues of the lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

A change in the number of these cells is called a shift in the leukocyte formula, and may indicate a number of disorders in the body. Consider what eosinophils are in blood tests, why they can be higher or lower than normal, what diseases it shows and what it means for the body if they are increased or decreased.

The norms of such particles in the blood are determined by a general analysis, and depend on the time of day, as well as the age of the patient. In the morning, in the evening and at night, their number may increase due to changes in the work of the adrenal glands.

Due to the physiological characteristics of the body, the level of eosinophils in the blood of children may be higher than in adults.

A shift in the leukocyte formula with a high level of eosinophils (eosinophilia) indicates that an inflammatory process is taking place in the body.

Depending on the degree of increase in this type of cell, eosinophilia is mild (an increase in the number of no more than 10%), moderate (10-15%) and severe (more than 15%).

A severe degree is considered a rather dangerous condition for a person, since in this case damage to internal organs is often noted due to oxygen starvation of tissues.

By itself, an increase in eosinophils in the blood cannot speak of damage to the heart or vascular system, but pathologies, the symptom of which is an increase in the number of this type of leukocytes, can cause cardiovascular diseases.

The fact is that in the place of their accumulation over time, inflammatory changes are formed that destroy cells and tissues. For example, prolonged, severe allergic reactions and bronchial asthma can cause eosinophilic myocarditis, a rare myocardial disease that develops as a result of exposure to eosinophil proteins.

A decrease in the level of eosinophils in the patient's blood (eosinopenia) is no less a dangerous condition than their increase. It also indicates the presence of an infection in the body, a pathological process or tissue damage, as a result of which protective cells rush to the focus of danger and their number in the blood drops sharply.

The most common cause of a decrease in blood eosinophils in heart disease is the onset of acute myocardial infarction. On the first day, the number of eosinophils can decrease until they disappear completely, after which, as the heart muscle regenerates, the concentration begins to increase.

Low levels of eosinophils are observed in the following cases:

• severe purulent infections and sepsis - in this case, the leukocyte form shifts towards young forms of leukocytes;
• in the first stages of inflammatory processes and in pathologies requiring surgical intervention: pancreatitis, appendicitis, exacerbation of cholelithiasis;
• strong infectious and painful shocks, as a result of which the blood cells stick together into tin-like formations that settle inside the vessels;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
• poisoning with lead, mercury, arsenic, copper and other heavy metals;
• chronic emotional stress;
• an advanced stage of leukemia, when the concentration of eosinophils can drop to zero.

eosinopenia

Situations when eosinophils are lowered are much less common than those with high eosinophils. The norm of eosinophils in children is in itself quite low, and a drop in these indicators down to zero may not indicate anything serious. However, any deviation from the norm in children requires additional examinations. If eosinophils are low in a child, this is due to a general decrease in the number of leukocytes in the blood. Most often it happens:

• due to the use of potent drugs (antibiotics, anticancer drugs),
• due to severe poisoning
• in coma,
• with diabetes mellitus and uremia,
• severe infectious diseases with vivid clinical manifestations (for example, influenza) in the initial period give the concentration of the considered blood cells below normal,
• injuries, extensive burns,
• in premature infants whose condition is accompanied by sepsis,
• sometimes with Down syndrome.

It has been noted that with increased work of the adrenal glands and a number of other reasons that increase the level of corticosteroid hormones, the maturation of eosinophils is blocked and they cannot leave the bone marrow into the bloodstream.

Of course, there is no specific treatment aimed at normalizing the low level of eosinophils in the blood. When carrying out successful therapy of the underlying disease, the values ​​of eosinophils in a child themselves level off to normal levels.

Causes of eosinophilia

Among many blood cells, there is a population of white blood cells called eosinophils, which are markers that determine:

The cells got their name due to the ability to perfectly absorb the eosin dye used in laboratory diagnostics.

Under the microscope, the cells look like small, double-nucleated amoebas that can move outside the vascular wall, invade tissues, and accumulate in inflammatory foci or tissue damage. In the blood, eosinophils swim for about an hour, after which they are transported to the tissues.

For adults, the normal content of eosinophils in a clinical blood test is from 1 to 5% of the total number of leukocytes. Eosinophils are determined by flow cytometry using a semiconductor laser, while the norm in women is the same as in men. More rare units of measurement are the number of cells in 1 ml of blood. Eosinophils should be from 120 to 350 per milliliter of blood.

The number of these cells can fluctuate during the day against the background of changes in the work of the adrenal glands.

• In the morning evening hours, eosinophils are 15% more than normal
• In the first half of the night, 30% more.

For a more reliable analysis result, you should:

• Take a blood test in the early morning hours on an empty stomach.
• For two days, you should refrain from alcohol and excessive consumption of sweets.
• Also, eosinophils can increase during menstruation in women. Starting from the moment of ovulation, until the end of the cycle, their number drops. This phenomenon is based on the eosinophilic test of ovarian function and determining the day of ovulation. Estrogens increase the maturation of eosinophils, progesterone - reduces.

As the child grows, the number of eosinophils in his blood fluctuates slightly, as can be seen from the table.

A significant increase in the number of eosinophils is considered a condition when there are more than 700 cells per milliliter (7 by 10 to 9 grams per liter). The increased content of eosinophils is called eosinophilia.

• Growth up to 10% - mild degree
• 10 to 15% - moderate
• Over 15% (more than 1500 cells per milliliter) - severe or severe eosinophilia. In this case, changes in the internal organs can be observed due to cellular and tissue oxygen starvation.

Sometimes errors occur when counting cells. Eosin stains not only eosinophilic granulocytes, but also granularity in neutrophils, then neutrophils are lowered, and eosinophils are increased for no good reason. In this case, a control blood test will be required.

• In allergic rhinitis, swabs are taken from the nose and throat for eosinophils.
• If bronchial asthma is suspected, spirometry and provocative tests (cold, with berotek) are performed.
• The allergist further conducts specific diagnostics (determination of allergens using standard sera), clarifies the diagnosis and prescribes treatment (antihistamines, hormonal preparations, sera).

If the absolute number of eosinophils per milliliter of blood falls below 200, the condition is interpreted as eosinopenia.

Low levels of eosinophils become in the following cases:

• In severe purulent infections, including sepsis, when the leukocyte population shifts towards young forms (stab and segmented), and then the leukocyte response is depleted.
• At the beginning of inflammatory processes, with surgical pathologies (appendicitis, pancreatitis, exacerbation of cholelithiasis).
• on the first day of myocardial infarction.
• With an infectious, painful shock, when the blood cells stick together into tin-like formations inside the vessels.
• With heavy metal poisoning (lead, copper, mercury, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, thallium).
• With chronic stress.
• Against the background of pathologies of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands.
• In the advanced stage of leukemia, eosinophils fall to zero.

• Lymphocytes and eosinophils are elevated during viral infections in allergic people, in patients with allergic dermatoses or helminthiases. The same picture will be in the blood of those who are treated with antibiotics or sulfonamides. In children, these cells increase with scarlet fever, the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus. For differential diagnosis, it is additionally recommended to donate blood for the level of immunoglobulins E, for antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus and feces for worm eggs.
• Monocytes and eosinophils increase during infectious processes. The most typical case in children and adults is mononucleosis. A similar picture can be with viral and fungal diseases, rickettsiosis, syphilis, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis.

In the leukocyte composition of the blood there are cells responsible for the reaction of the body to the penetration of foreign microorganisms or harmful substances into it. Therefore, if the child has elevated eosinophils, the doctor must identify the cause that caused such a deviation.

Role in the body

Eosinophils are a type of granulocyte produced by the bone marrow to fight toxins, foreign microorganisms, or their decay products.

The cells got their name because of the ability to absorb the dye eosin, which determines the color of this type of blood cells. These cells do not stain with basic dyes in the laboratory as do basophils.

From the bone marrow, they are carried through the blood capillaries to the tissues of the body, mainly accumulating in the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract.

A blood test allows you to determine the absolute or relative indicator of the number of this type of leukocyte.

The norm of eosinophils in children in absolute terms should be:

• babies from birth to a year 0.05-0.4 Gg / l (Giga gram / liter),
• children from one year to 6 years old 0.02-0.3 Gg / l,
• children over 6 years old and adults 0.02-0.5 Gg / l.

However, most often, a laboratory analysis shows the number of eosinophils in the blood of a child in relation to other leukocytes, that is, a relative value.

Its norm in children of different ages should be within the following limits:

• children up to 2 weeks 1-6%,
• children under 1 year 1-5%,
• 1-2 years 1-7%,
• from 2 to 5 years 1-6%,
• 5-15 years 1-4%,
• older than 15 years 0.5-5%.

The eosinophilic composition of the blood is strongly influenced by the time of blood sampling for the study and the correct preparation for the test. An increase in eosinophils in the blood is noted at night, when the adrenal glands intensively produce hormones.

Therefore, the generally accepted norms take into account the leukocyte composition of the blood for the average person who donated blood in the morning.

The level of eosinophils in the blood is also affected by the menstrual course in women. An increase in the amount of progesterone, reaching a peak at the time of ovulation, reduces the number of these cells. This property of the body made it possible to create a test to determine the day of ovulation, which is very important for women planning a pregnancy.

Deviations from the norm

Unfortunately, the analysis does not always show the normal level of various types of white blood cells in the blood. What reasons can cause a deviation in the number of eosinophils from the norm, and what will the decoding tell the doctor about?

In rare cases, there may be a decrease or even complete absence of eosinophils in the blood. This condition is called eosinopenia, it may be due to a congenital feature of the body or a weakened immune system.

Sometimes eosinophils are absent in children with viral or bacterial diseases. Often, eosinophils are lowered in a child who has undergone psycho-emotional stress or excessive physical exertion. These cells may be completely absent in the leukocytogram after trauma, burns or surgery.

Eosinophilia

In practice, a condition in which eosinophils are elevated, which has received the medical name eosinophilia, is much more common.

The reasons for which eosinophilia occurs in children are divided into the following groups:

There are 3 degrees:

• mild (eosinophils are increased in a child by no more than 10% of the total number of leukocytes),
• moderate (in a child, eosinophils make up 10% - 20% of leukocytes),
• severe (the child has increased eosinophils by more than 20% of the total number of leukocytes).

A mild degree is not dangerous. It is rather a borderline state between the norm and pathology, which may simply be a reaction to short-term contact with an aggressive substance or be a concomitant diagnostic sign of chronic allergies.

A moderate degree creates the prerequisites for a deeper examination. In addition to determining the percentage of blood cells, it is necessary to determine the level of a specific peptide (cationic protein) and conduct an immunogram. This condition already requires correction.

Severe degree - a pronounced pathological process, which is a direct threat to the life of the child. This condition is always a symptom of a severe disorder of the immune, hematopoietic or endocrine systems.

Symptoms of the disease

In infants and young children, external manifestations are quite pronounced:

• there is redness of the skin,
• to the touch the skin is rough, increased density,
• peeling, hair loss is noted on the scalp,
• when assessing muscle tone, hypertonicity is often detected and contractions of the muscles of the limbs, similar to convulsive ones, may appear,
• when breathing, a wheezing cough is possible,
• due to swelling of the nasal mucosa, impaired nasal breathing.
• common manifestations are expressed in sleep disturbance, decreased appetite in infants.
• at the initial stages, the baby is capricious, later, on the contrary, it becomes apathetic.

At an older age, when verbal contact is possible, both children and adults describe the symptoms of general malaise more colorfully:

• headache,
• cardiac arrhythmias,
• dyspnea,
• gastrointestinal disorders,
• skin sensitivity disorders
• the appearance of yellowish spots on the face and limbs,
• swelling of the face and limbs,
• exacerbation of neurological disorders.

Since there are a lot of reasons for increasing eosinophils in the blood of a child, the symptoms may be different.

• There are changes in appetite;
• There is a feeling of lethargy and loss of strength;
• There is itching irritation of the anus;

• Weight is reduced;
• There is pain in the muscles;
• Allergic reactions appear on the skin.

• Rash on the skin, accompanied by itching;
• Runny nose, sneezing, swelling;

• Dry cough, shortness of breath, asthma attacks;
• Itching, redness of the eyes, tearing.

Other diseases in which an increase in the number of this type of leukocytes is possible are more typical for adults. However, any changes in the child's condition, along with a deviation from the norm as a result of the study, and especially when eosinophils are elevated in infants, require additional attention from specialists.

Anxiety for the child pushes parents to turn to additional examinations. To get a more accurate result, you should follow some rules for taking a clinical blood test:

• Since an increase in leukocytes follows after eating, it is best to donate blood on an empty stomach;
• Theoretically, the indicators also depend on the time of day at which the analysis was made, so it is preferable to do it in the morning;
• If during the course of an illness, KLA is given several times, then it will be correct to observe the same conditions (for example, always in the morning and before meals), so that as few factors as possible affect the indicators;
• If the child is healthy, and eosinophilia persists for a long time, it is worth taking an analysis for the level of total immunoglobulin E to determine the tendency to allergic reactions.

About the increase in eosinophils in a child, Dr. Komarovsky says the following: “it may be present after illnesses, usually bacterial, at the stage of recovery. But if the general condition of the child is normal, then in itself an increase in the number of eosinophils should not cause alarm in parents.

If the child is healthy, then it is best to monitor his condition and be examined (do an OAC) in about 3-4 months.

Treatment for eosinophilia

If the levels of eosinophils in the blood of a child increase, treatment is primarily directed to the disease that causes this symptom. The complex of drugs prescribed to the patient will depend on the type of underlying disease, its severity and stage, as well as the age of the patient. First-line drugs will be steroid hormones, antihistamines, immunosuppressants, and metabolic drugs.

Indicators of the number of eosinophils for specialists is the most important diagnostic criterion for determining the functional state of the body.