tropical pulmonary eosinophilia

eosinophilia

 [e″o-sin″o-fil´e-ah]

1. the formation and accumulation of an abnormally large number of eosinophils in the blood; see also hypereosinophilia. Called also eosinophilic leukocytosis.

2. the condition of being readily stained with eosin. adj., adj eosinophil´ic.

tropical eosinophilia (tropical pulmonary eosinophilia) a subacute or chronic form of occult filariasis, usually involving Brugia malayi or Wuchereria bancrofti , occurring in the tropics. It is characterized by episodic nocturnal wheezing and coughing, strikingly elevated eosinophilia, and diffuse reticulonodular infiltrations of the lung. Sometimes the lymph nodes and spleen are greatly enlarged.

tropical pulmonary eosinophilia

Tropical eosinophilia A hypersensitivity response of the lungs to filarial worms Etiology Ancylostoma duodenale, Brugia malayi, Dirofilaria immitis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Toxocara canis, Wuchereria bancrofti Clinical Malaise, wasting, wheezing, bronchospasm, chronic productive cough with bilateral rales Management Diethylcarbamazine, Ivermectin