Eosinophils are white blood cells that are important to the human body, and they work essentially to fight diseases and infections. For instance, an increased eosinophil level might thus symbolize a number of health conditions, ranging from allergic reactions and asthma to specific types of cancer.
These cells also play a role in the body’s immune response in allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The immune system releases eosinophils when the body detects harmful pathogens—such as parasites, viruses, or bacteria—and allergens. Eosinophils migrate to the affected area to destroy the invading cells.
Whether your count of eosinophils is high or low, the number can make healthcare providers understand your body’s responses better. Here’s what you should know.
What Are Eosinophils?
Eosinophils are specialized white blood cells that serve several important immune functions to help keep you healthy. These cells travel to the body part where an infectious agent is detected. They release toxic chemicals and proteins that can attack and kill harmful cells or germs to prevent illness.
How Are They Helpful?
Eosinophils also contribute to assisting the body in fighting allergic reactions. The immune system identifies an allergen as foreign and mounts an allergic response. Eosinophils are key to this response and cause inflammation. Inflammation can help to wall off and regulate the area of the allergic reaction and may produce itching, sneezing, and a runny nose
It has been proven through research that eosinophils are involved in the healing process of wounds. Scientists are still studying how eosinophils facilitate healing.
According to some experts, eosinophils:
- Help form scars
- Are involved in tissue formation
- Encourage the development of new blood vessels
How to Measure Eosinophils
An eosinophil count is part of a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC measures the various components in your blood, such as eosinophils, red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets.
A healthcare provider will draw a small sample of blood and send it into a lab for testing. To get your blood sample, they will:
- Find a vein to withdraw blood from, usually on the inside of your elbow.
- Clean the area with an antiseptic and tie an elastic band around your arm to make it easier to collect the blood sample.
- Insert the needle gently into your arm and collect the blood in a tube (vial).
- Remove the needle and place a bandage on your arm to prevent bleeding.
A trained lab technician will then prepare a blood smear by spreading a thin layer of your blood on a glass slide. They will examine the slide under a microscope to identify and count your eosinophils. These cells look like small, orange-colored particles or spots.
A lab technician can measure your eosinophil count by multiplying the percentage of eosinophils per 100 cells by the total white blood cell count in your body. The absolute eosinophil count represents the actual number of eosinophils per microliter (µL) of blood.
Understand Levels
The count of eosinophils is the number of eosinophils present in your blood. Your count may provide some vital information regarding your health, thereby diagnosing or monitoring certain health conditions that you may have.
The normal range of eosinophils is less than 500 eosinophil cells per µL of blood, or less than 5% of the total white blood cell count. Your immune system is generally functioning normally if your eosinophil count falls within the normal range. There are also no apparent signs of eosinophil-related conditions with this result.
Interpreting your eosinophil count can be complex. Talk to a healthcare provider about your results. They can answer your questions, discuss your results, and offer recommendations and guidance on the next steps if your results are outside the normal range.
Low Eosinophil Count
You may be suffering from a condition called “eosinopenia” if your levels are low. Several health conditions and medications can lead to low eosinophil counts, including:
- Acute bacterial infections
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Overproduction of cortisol-a stress hormone
- Steroid use
A low eosinophil count can be due to an unknown cause. A doctor may conduct other tests to understand why your counts are low and give you a proper diagnosis. You may sometimes also need treatments to increase your count to a healthy range.
High Eosinophil Count
You can have a condition known as “eosinophilia” if your levels are high. There are three classes of eosinophilia:
- Allergic reactions
- Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- Autoimmune disorders
- Certain cancers (for example, leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
- Drug reactions
- Esophagitis
- Gastroenteritis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Parasitic infections
Note that eosinophilia is not associated with symptoms by itself. Any symptom will most probably be due to the infection or condition that leads to your elevated eosinophil count. It’s still important to treat eosinophilia. An elevated eosinophil count can cause damage to any vital organ including the heart, lungs, skin, intestines, and stomach if left untreated.
How To Treat Eosinophilia
Treatment will focus on the condition that is causing your eosinophilia. That might be with drugs, diet modifications (avoiding specific foods), or using an inhaler. For unknown causes, a health care professional might suggest some general treatments that would help bring your count down and prevent the complications from developing.
