Description
Possible work-related causes of eosinophilia (increased eosinophils) include asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, parasitic infections, and other infections. Infections that may cause eosinophilia include hookworm, filariasis, schistosomiasis, echinococossis, coccidioidomycosis, brucellosis, cat-scratch fever, and mycobacterial disease. [Merck Manual, p. 988t] The most common causes of eosinophilia in a returning traveler are schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. Serology tests are available for these two diseases. A normal eosinophil count is <350/mm3. Massive eosinophilia (>5000/mm3) may be seen in strongyloidiasis, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (filariasis), visceral larva migrans, and trichinellosis [PPID, p. 3652-4]