Eosinophilia is the type of white blood cells that are essential for the body’s response to various conditions such as infection, allergy or asthma. This is the protective immunity produced by the body for various parasites and is responsible for the inflammation in various parts of the body. The eosinophilic disorder develops when the count of eosinophilia is above normal which usually is 0 to 450 per cubic millimeter of blood. The eosinophilia accumulation can occur in various parts of the body such as the esophagus, stomach, large intestine, small intestine or any other organ.
Causes
The eosinophilia is responsible for the destruction of foreign substances in the body and helps promote inflammation by isolating the site of the disease. This occurs with the movement of eosinophilia into the area causing the problem and releasing different toxins. However, the excess accumulation of eosinophilia can create chronic inflammation that can result in tissue damage. Various factors can contribute to the accumulation of the eosinophilia at a particular site and can include tumors, endocrine disorders, skin conditions, allergies and parasitic or fungal diseases. Some of the diseases that can also result in this condition include asthma, hay fever, ovarian cancer, primary immunodeficiency, hodgkin’s lymphoma and drug allergy.
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
This is a rare condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and the symptoms are based on the area affected. The symptoms can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, heartburn and bloating. Although the exact cause of this disease is not known, research indicates that it may be caused by the hypersensitivity to certain types of food or allergens. The treatment includes corticosteroid drug that can be effective along with the exclusion of food that may cause allergy.
Eosinophilic esophagitis
This is the inflammatory condition of the esophagus that connects the mouth to the stomach. This occurs when the large numbers of eosinophilis are accumulated in the esophagus tissue which is normally absent. It is commonly caused by the immune system’s adverse response to allergens such as certain food, dust mites, pollen and molds. The symptoms depend on the age of the affected individual presenting abdominal pain, vomiting and difficulty with swallowing. Among the infants, it can result in refusal of food and not growing properly. The treatment is based on the clinical findings of various tests and examination such as an endoscopy or a biopsy. The treatment mainly focuses in excluding the food that causes allergy.
Eosinophilic colitis
This rare disease occurs when the eosinophil occurs in elevated numbers in the large intestine causing inflammation. Although in most cases, the cause remains unknown, the cow’s milk protein can aggravate the symptoms. This disease often develops with infants before the age of 6 months. The common symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, bloody diarrhea, anemia and difficulty feeding. The treatment consists of dietary therapy that eliminates the suspected food allergens and anti-inflammatory medications for the swelling may also be beneficial.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/eosinophilia/basics/definition/sym-20050752
https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/eosinophilic-gastroenteritis/
https://medlineplus.gov/eosinophilicdisorders.html
http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/related-conditions/eosinophilic-esophagitis
