Simple pulmonary eosinophilia is inflammation of the lungs associated with an increase in eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.
Alternative Names:
Pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia; Loeffler syndrome
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Most cases of simple pulmonary eosinophilia are due to an allergic reaction, either from a drug, such as sulfonamide, or infection from a fungus or parasite, including Ascaris lumbricoides.
The symptoms can range from none at all to severe. They may go away without treatment.
Signs and tests:
The health care provider will listen to your chest with a stethoscope. Crackle-like sounds called rales may be heard. Rales suggest inflammation of the lung tissue.
A blood count test shows increased white blood cells, particularly eosinophils.
Chest x-ray usually shows abnormal shadows called infiltrates. They may disappear with time or reappear in different areas of the lung.
A bronchoscopy with washing may show a large number of eosinophils.
Gastric lavage may show signs of the ascaris worm.
Review Date: 2/16/2007
Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
General Lung Disease
