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Eosinophilia
Eosinophilia
Eosinophilia
Eosinophilia
William Newsholme
Tom Doherty
Diagnosis
To answer the question: Why did this patient, from this place,
develop these symptoms at this time?, a clear and detailed travel
history is necessary. This should address the destination to which
the individual travelled, when he travelled and for how long, and
what he did while he was away. For diagnostic purposes, it is also
important to consider when the last exposure occurred, to allow
for full maturation of the parasite (3 months for schistosomiasis,
6 months for filariasis).
MEDICINE 33:7
THE TRAVELLER
Causes of eosinophilia
Management
Management depends on the results of investigations. The options
when all tests are negative are:
observation only
blind albendazole, 400 mg daily for 3 days (to cover intestinal
nematodes, particularly Strongyloides).
FURTHER READING
Harries A D, Myers B, Bhattacharrya D. Eosinophilia in Caucasians
returning from the tropics. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg 1986; 80:
3278.
Weller P F. Eosinophilia in the returned traveller. In: Armstrong D,
Cohen J, eds. Infectious diseases. London: Mosby, 2004.
Weller P F. Eosinophilia in travelers. Med Clin North Am 1992; 76:
141332.
Practice points