eosinophils

What is Eosinophilia? An eosinophil is the part of white blood cells. A complete blood count is run to determine the eosinophils count in the body. Eosinophilia happens when the number of eosinophils is high in the blood. The number is usually higher than or equal to 500 eosinophils. You must know Eosinophilia's normal range to keep a check on its count.   The eosinophils support the proper functioning of various white blood cells in your immune system. They are the defence system of your body. These blood cells fight the allergens and protect the body from fungal infections. You might have a higher eosinophil count if you have a certain health condition. Is Eosinophilia serious? The eosinophilia disease depends on the number of eosinophils in your blood. It also depends on the mild, moderate, or high eosinophil levels. If you have a high eosinophil count, it's probably a cause of random drug reactions or allergies. It can also be caused due to a serious underlying condition such as a blood disorder. Many times, eosinophils get collected at a particular body part and show symptoms of inflammation. Such a condition can arise in any part of your body. If you see any such symptoms, reach out for some medical help. What causes Eosinophilia? There are many causes behind the increase in the eosinophil count in your blood. A few causes can be: Asthma Seasonal allergies Medicine reactions The other Eosinophilia causes are parasite or fungal infections and: Autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel Autoimmune myocarditis Vasculitis Blood cancer cells can also lead to Eosinophilia. Lastly, it can also be passed on genetically through biological parents. What can happen if the Eosinophil count is high? If your eosinophil count is high, it can lead to swelling and inflammation in your body. It is known as a condition of eosinophilic disorder or hypereosinophilia syndrome. This condition can affect various parts of your body. A few disorders are as follows: Eosinophilic fasciitis: It is a disorder in your fascia. A connective tissue disorder throughout your body. Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders: It is when the disorder happens in your oesophagus, colon, small intestine, and large intestine. It happens due to eosinophilic esophagitis. Eosinophilic cystitis: It affects your bladder. Eosinophilic pneumonia: This disorder happens in your lungs. Hypereosinophilic syndrome: This condition happens with an increased level of Eosinophilia. The disorder affects your nervous system, respiratory tract, and heart. What are Eosinophilia symptoms? The first symptom is the increase in the eosinophils count in your blood. If there is a negligible increase in the eosinophils count, here are a few symptoms to look out for: Skin rashes Itching Diarrhoea Runny nose due to allergies Asthma Chronic cough situation When the eosinophils are high you will notice symptoms such as fatigue and gastrointestinal diseases. Diarrhoea and fungal infection are the other two significant symptoms. You should pay attention to these symptoms and rush to a doctor immediately. How do healthcare providers diagnose Eosinophilia? Eosinophilia, a blood disorder, can only be diagnosed by identifying the complete blood count. This report shows the number of each type of white blood cell. The various white blood cells in the blood are eosinophils, lymphocytes, basophils, neutrophils and monocytes. Once the condition is diagnosed, the healthcare professional will work on figuring out the cause behind it. The doctor might also ask you to visit a haematologist. The condition of Eosinophilia is divided into mild, moderate, and severe, depending on the blood cell count. If the blood count is: 500-1500 cells per microliter, the condition is mild 1500-5000 cells/mcL, the condition is moderate 5000+ cells/mcL, the condition is severe. The Eosinophilia causes are identified based on the symptoms of the patient. For instance, if you're facing difficulty in swallowing your food, this might be a symptom of oesophagus eosinophilia. In such conditions, the stool sample is tested to diagnose the level of parasite infection.   Sometimes, the medication can be the cause behind your Eosinophilia. Once you stop consuming the regular dosage, you might see significant health improvement. The normal eosinophil count in a healthy human body is lower than 500 cells/mcL. If the doctor diagnoses the symptom of excessive gas, they may run the following tests to see your digestive tract health: Liver function test Urine test Tissue and bone marrow Stool test Chest X-rays and more blood tests Wondering what level of eosinophils indicates cancer? If your cell/mcL level is more than or equal to 5000, it can indicate cancer. Make sure you do not come to any conclusion by yourself after seeing the report. Consult the doctor immediately and let them assess the situation, before reaching any conclusion. How do healthcare providers treat Eosinophilia? Eosinophilia is treated after determining the causes behind it. A few ways of determining it are: Repetition of lab study to observe if your Eosinophilia is mild or severe Discontinuation of medication to see if medicines are the cause behind the increase in eosinophil count Treatment for eczema and asthma Parasite infection relief medications Prescription of steroids to treat excessive eosinophilia syndromes Many people have moderate to mild eosinophilia counts and can recover by taking proper treatment. You might require a specialist in a few cases. A few or several underlying reasons cause this medical condition. An Eosinophils blood test is performed to know the cause of the disease. Luckily, these underlying conditions are easily curable with diagnosis and medications. If you see any other alarming symptoms, consult your physician. How can I prevent Eosinophilia You can prevent Eosinophilia by keeping a check on your eosinophil levels. To have the right level of eosinophils in your blood, try to have a balanced diet. Your diet must comprise fruits, vegetables, lentils, fats, protein, and whole grains. You must also avoid allergy-causing food items to reduce the eosinophil count. These food items are soy, egg, wheat, fish, and milk. Avoid these food items if you're allergic to them at all costs. Gastric and acidity increases the eosinophil level in the blood. Hence, remove fried food, garlic, onion, and alcohol from your diet. You can also do natural remedies to reduce your eosinophil levels: Have a healthy meal full of vegetables, fruits, and water. Consume immunity-boosting food such as turmeric, honey, pepper, and ginger. Stress less as it can increase your eosinophil levels to a great extent. You can practise yoga, meditation, and other breathing exercises to manage your cortisol levels. Stop smoking and drinking unendingly to keep your eosinophil levels in check. Regularly check your eosinophil level by running regular blood tests. Try to stay away from allergens and fungal bacteria. Live in a clean environment and keep your surroundings tidy. Even dust can spike up your eosinophil levels. If you face seasonal allergies, immediately visit your healthcare provider for prescribed medications. Ensure you avoid consuming medications that spike your eosinophil levels. What can I expect if I have Eosinophilia? You do not need to worry if you've low or moderate eosinophils levels. However, it would help if you had a quick diagnosis in case of a high eosinophil count. In case the eosinophils are high it is suggested to consult the healthcare provider and follow what they suggest. Conclusion You'll see an abnormal increase in your blood eosinophil levels if you suffer from Eosinophilia. These are a form of white blood cells that your bone marrow produces. It is essential to fight foreign bacteria and fungi. It helps in keeping your body's inflammation at bay. Take a quick blood test if you see unusual symptoms like fatigue, diarrhoea or gastrointestinal discomfort. These symptoms might be a sign of an underlying reason behind eosinophils high. Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial to returning the eosinophil count to a mild level At Metropolis Lab, you get the best possible diagnosis and treatment from highly skilled medical professionals. They have the best lab and test equipment to run various tests. From blood and urine to stool tests, you get accurate results for all of them. All the tests are done at an affordable cost without burning a hole in your pocket. Also, in the report along with your body's eosinophils count, Eosinophil's normal range will be mentioned to let you know about the exact levels.

An absolute eosinophil count is a type of blood test that measures the total number of eosinophils, which are a kind of white blood cells. Eosinophils are white blood cells that become active in some cases such as when you have an allergic reaction, infection or other medical conditions. While the exact role of eosinophils in the body is still unclear, we know that white blood cells are responsible for fighting diseases. This article aims at helping you learn more about the eosinophil count and why it matters. What are Eosinophils? Eosinophils are white blood cells created in your bone marrow before travelling to other kinds of tissue. They have two primary functions in the immune system, mainly curbing infections and boosting inflammation, which can, in turn, help fight off diseases. When the number of eosinophils in the blood is higher than the normal amount, it is called eosinophilia. A blood sample in adults will show lesser than 500 eosinophil cells per microliter (mL) of blood, in a healthy adult. What is an Eosinophil count? When you undergo a blood test and your results do not fall under the normal range, a doctor might suggest follow-up tests to get a clearer idea of the problem. The follow-up test is called an absolute eosinophil count for a white blood cell differential test. This test helps doctors determine the total number of eosinophils in the bloodstream. Your doctor may also suggest this test if they think you are suffering from certain diseases or conditions, such as An extreme allergic reaction A reaction to a drug Certain parasitic infections How to prepare for an eosinophil count test? You do not have to do a lot of preparation for this test. However, informing your doctor if you are on blood thinning drugs or other medications that may affect the test results is essential. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking certain medications before the blood test as they may cause you to have a high eosinophil count in the blood. These medicines include: Interferons which are drugs that help treat infections Laxatives which include psyllium Tranquilizers Certain antibiotics Procedure for An eosinophil count test You may have to visit a diagnostics lab to give a blood sample or opt for a home sample collection from reputed diagnostic labs. The healthcare professional will then take a blood sample from your arm using the following steps. They will clean the site using a swab dipped in an antiseptic solution. Then they will insert a needle into your arm and attach a vacutainer/tube that will collect your blood. When enough blood is drawn, the needle is removed and a small bandage may be applied to cover the site. This sample will be sent to the lab for testing. Understanding the test results As an absolute eosinophil count test indicates various diseases, knowing your results is the first step toward getting the necessary treatment. Normal eosinophil count If your eosinophil count comes to less than 500 eosinophil cells per microliter of blood, then it is considered to be within the normal range. This number does not apply to kids as their standard range varies with age. What does a high eosinophil count mean? If your eosinophil count is higher than the normal range, it can indicate the following: An allergic disorder like hay fever or asthma Acute hypereosinophilic syndrome which is a rare condition like leukaemia Autoimmune conditions A parasitic or fungal infection Asthma Early stages of Cushing's disease A reaction to some medication Leukaemia or other kinds of blood disorders Eczema What does a low eosinophil count indicate? Having a low eosinophil count is not an indicator of any disease. Still, it could mean you have too much alcohol in your system or your body is creating an excess of certain steroids, such as cortisol. Meet your doctor immediately to get a prompt diagnosis and treatment. What happens If you have a high eosinophil count? An absolute eosinophil count test is essential for diagnosing your problem; your doctor will closely examine the results before moving on to your treatment. The following steps after an eosinophil count include: A prescription for short-term treatment of your symptoms may be suggested if your doctor suspects you have a parasitic or allergic infection. This treatment aims at bringing your white blood cell count to normal levels. High doses of corticosteroids may be prescribed if your test results indicate severe eosinophilia. This treatment may also include the use of monoclonal antibodies or immunomodulatory if steroid therapy does not help reduce eosinophil levels. More follow-up tests may be recommended if your eosinophil count indicates an autoimmune disease. In this case, the tests help identify the type of autoimmune disease you may have. Your doctor will usually work closely with you to determine the cause of the high eosinophil count and give you clear instructions on what needs to be done to bring your count back to normal. Conclusion Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell and an absolute eosinophil count is usually ordered as a part of a complete white blood count differential. This test is generally prescribed when the doctor wants an overall view of your health, as it helps determine whether you have an allergy, infection or other health conditions. Metropolis Healthcare aims to provide the best quality diagnostic services to our customers. Our highly trained technicians offer home sample collection services, so you do not need to leave the comfort of your home to access healthcare. Check out our blood diagnostic tests and health package list for more information.