The fact that eosinophils are raised in a child causes a natural alarm in parents, but not only because of concern for the health of the baby, but also because of their own health, since often eosinophilia is hereditary. But before taking action, one should understand what eosinophils are, what are the norms of their content in the blood and the reasons for the changes in the level of indicators.
What is eosinophils?
Eosinophils in the blood of children and adults - one of the types of leukocytes that form in the bone marrow and act in those tissues that enter with blood flow, namely in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, capillaries of the skin. They perform the following functions:
- antihistamine;
- phagocytic;
- antitoxic;
- participation in allergic reactions.
Their main purpose in the body is to combat foreign proteins, which they absorb and dissolve.
Eosinophils - the norm in children
The concentration of these bodies in the blood depends on the age of the child. So, for example, the level of eosinophils may be increased in an infant to 8%, but in older children, the norm should not exceed 5%. You can determine the level of particles by passing a detailed blood test with a leukocyte formula.
Eosinophils elevated in the child: causes
- The most frequent reason for the increase (moderate, not more than 15%) of eosinophils in a child in the blood is reactive eosinophilia, which is the body's response to allergic reactions, most often to cow milk or drugs. If it is a newborn, the cause of intensive production of leukocytes by the spinal cord may be intrauterine infections. In this case, they say with hereditary eosinophilia.
- In older children, an increase in the level of eosinophils indicates helminthic invasion, dermatological diseases, fungal lesions. If the level exceeds the 20% mark, then it is a hypereosinophilic syndrome, the presence of which indicates that the brain, lungs, and heart are affected.
- Syndrome of tropical eosinophilia - is also a consequence of parasite infestation in conditions of heat and high humidity due to non-compliance with hygiene standards. Symptoms of the syndrome are: asthmatic cough, the presence of eosinophilic infiltrates in the lungs, shortness of breath.
- In some cases, eosinophilia accompanies malignant tumors and blood diseases: lymphomas, myeloblastic leukemias.
- Vasculitis.
- Staphylococcus enters the body of a child.
- Lack of magnesium ions in the body.
Eosinophils are lowered in a child
If the child has a low concentration of eosinophils in his blood, this condition is called eosinopia. It develops at the time of the acute course of a disease, when all white blood cells are directed at its elimination and fighting with foreign cells that "host" in the body.
A variant of aneosinophilia is also possible - when this type of leukocyte is in principle absent in the body.
Eosinophils are increased in a child: treatment
With reactive eosinophilia, no special treatment is required. The level of eosinophils will gradually decrease by itself, as treatment for the underlying disease that caused this condition is treated.
In more serious diseases that provoked hypereosinophilic syndrome, as well as hereditary eosinophilia, it is possible to prescribe drugs that inhibit the production of this group of leukocytes.
Upon completion of the course of treatment, you should again take a blood test to determine the content of eosinophils in the blood.