home Audience 3 The main reasons for the increase in eosinophils in a child. What does it mean if a child has elevated eosinophils in a blood test, and what treatment is required in this case?

The main reasons for the increase in eosinophils in a child. What does it mean if a child has elevated eosinophils in a blood test, and what treatment is required in this case?

A high level of eosinophils in a child is a violation of the blood count, when the test results are increased by more than 8%, and which indicates infection with helminths or allergies. The highest values of eosinophils (EO, EOS) are found in hypereosinophilia, when the analysis values reach 80 - 90%.

Causes of eosinophilia in children

The most common causes of elevated eosinophils in children include:

allergy manifested by:
- atopic dermatitis;
- hay fever;
- bronchial asthma;
- hives;
- Quincke's edema;
- food intolerance;
- hypersensitivity to the administration of antibiotics, vaccines, serum;
helminthiases - and how independent cause eosinophilia, and as a factor provoking allergic reaction;
infectious diseases, including scarlet fever, chickenpox, influenza, ARVI, tuberculosis, etc.

Eosinophils increased to 8% - 25% most often mean an allergic reaction or an infectious disease.

Less commonly, eosinophils in a child are elevated in the blood due to:

autoimmune diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, vasculitis, psoriasis;
immunodeficiency hereditary disorder– Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Omenn syndrome, familial histiocytosis;
hypothyroidism;
oncology;
magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium ions are necessary for protein synthesis, including immunoglobulins of all classes. The lack of this macronutrient negatively affects the state of humoral immunity.

Eosinophils are elevated in infants with Omenn syndrome, an inherited genetic disorder characterized by:

scaly peeling of the skin;
enlarged liver and spleen;
diarrhea;
elevated temperature.

The disease is diagnosed in infants immediately after birth. In the blood test, in addition to increased EOS, leukocytes and IgE content were increased.

Allergy

Elevated eosinophils serve as an indicator of acute or chronic allergic processes developing in the body. In Russia, allergies are the most common cause increase in blood eosinophils in a child.

In addition to elevated eosinophils, food allergies are characterized by leukopenia, high level in the child’s blood there are IgE immunoglobulins, the presence of EO in the mucus from the stool.

There is a relationship between the degree of eosinophilia and the severity of allergy symptoms:

when EO increases to 7-8% - slight redness of the skin, slight itching, enlargement of lymph nodes to the size of a “pea”, IgE 150 - 250 IU/l;
EO increased to 10% - strong itchy skin, appearance of cracks, crusts on the skin, marked enlargement of lymph nodes, IgE 250 – 500 IU/l;
EO more than 10% - constant itching that disturbs the child’s sleep, extensive skin lesions with deep cracks, enlargement of several lymph nodes to the size of a “bean”, IgE more than 500 IU/l.

Increased eosinophils in hay fever - allergic inflammation mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, trachea, bronchi, conjunctiva of the eyes. Hay fever is manifested by swelling of the mucous membranes, runny nose, sneezing, swelling of the eyelids, and nasal congestion.

An increased level of eosinophils in hay fever is found not only in the peripheral blood, but also in the mucous membranes in areas of inflammation.

Allergy to vaccination

An increase in eosinophilic granulocytes can occur in children as a result of an allergic reaction to vaccination. Sometimes diseases that have nothing to do with the administration of the vaccine are mistaken for signs of vaccination complications.

The fact that eosinophils are elevated in a child precisely because of the vaccine is indicated by the appearance of symptoms of complications no later than:

in 2 days for ADS vaccinations, DPT, ADS-S - vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus;
14 days after measles vaccination, symptoms of complications appear more often on the 5th day after vaccination;
3 weeks with mumps vaccination;
1 month after polio vaccination.

An immediate complication of vaccination is anaphylactic shock, accompanied by increased eosinophils, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and neutrophils. Anaphylactic shock vaccination develops in the first 15 minutes after administration of the drug, manifests itself in the child:

worry, anxiety;
frequent weak pulse;
shortness of breath;
pale skin.

Eosinophils in helminthiasis

A common cause of increased eosinophils in children is infection with worms. The presence of helminths in the child’s body is determined using tests:

feces - diagnostics, with the exception of roundworm and giardia, is not accurate, because it does not detect larvae, waste products, the method does not work if the source of infection is outside the digestive tract;
blood - general analysis, liver tests;
ELISA – linked immunosorbent assay, determines the presence of antibodies in the blood to certain types helminths.

Types of helminthiases

Toxocariasis can occur in children with symptoms of bronchitis and pneumonia. The patient's condition is characterized by cough, fever combined with intestinal upset.

Signs of toxocariasis are:

abdominal pain;
skin rashes;
enlargement of the liver and lymph nodes.

So, if at first eosinophils in a child’s blood are increased to 85%, and after 3 weeks they decrease to 8% - 10%, then this most likely means that he is infected with trematodes.

According to WHO in different countries Around the world, 30 to 60% of children are infected with Giardia. Giardiasis is accompanied atopic dermatitis, urticaria, food allergy. The increase in eosinophils in giardiasis is persistent, but the increase in indicators is often insignificant and amounts to 8% - 10%, although there are cases with EO 17 - 20%.

Infectious diseases

With high eosinophils and increased monocytes helminthic infestations, infectious intestinal diseases occur, respiratory tract. Changes in the leukocyte formula of the blood depend on the nature of the pathogen.

In infections caused by viruses and bacteria, eosinophil counts are lower than in helminthiases. And the severity of the infection explains why eosinophils can be elevated in a child or remain unchanged with the same type of pathogen.

The level of EO changes differently depending on the severity of the disease when infected with the parainfluenza virus. Parainfluenza is an acute respiratory viral infection with symptoms:

temperature rises to 38 degrees;
severe runny nose;
dry cough

Children may develop laryngitis, tracheitis, and there is an increased risk of laryngeal stenosis, especially if the child is prone to allergic reactions.

Uncomplicated parainfluenza occurs without an increase in ESR, with a slight decrease in leukocytes. With parainfluenza complicated by pneumonia, eosinophils are increased in children to 6–8%. In the blood test, lymphocytes were elevated, ESR increased to 15 - 20 mm per hour.

Elevated eosinophils in a blood test are detected in tuberculosis, infectious mononucleosis. The level of eosinophils depends on the severity of tuberculosis. Severe tuberculosis occurs with normal eosinophils.

A slight increase in eosinophils, lymphocytes above normal and the absence of young neutrophils in the blood in tuberculosis means recovery, or this is considered a sign of a benign course of the disease.

And here sharp drop EO levels in the blood or even complete absence eosinophilic leukocytes is an unfavorable sign. Such a violation indicates a severe course of tuberculosis.

Infants under one year of age and adolescents from 12 to 16 years of age are especially susceptible to tuberculosis. Treatment of tuberculosis, due to prolonged use of drugs, can cause drug allergies. The appearance of an allergy means that the child’s eosinophils in a blood test will be higher than normal, and this increase sometimes reaches 20–30%.

Autoimmune eosinophilia

Increased eosinophil counts in children caused by an autoimmune disorder are rare. With high EOS, a child may be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease:

With eosinophilic fasciitis, EO is increased to 8% - 44%, ESR rises to 30 - 50 mm per hour, IgG levels are increased. Periarteritis nodosa, in addition to elevated eosinophils, is characterized by high platelets, neutrophils, low hemoglobin, acceleration of ESR.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is considered a disease childhood. A feature of this disease is that when eosinophils are elevated in the blood, the child sometimes has no allergic manifestations, which means that they try to treat it on their own and see a doctor late.

Signs of eosinophilic gastroenteritis in children include:

lack of appetite, weight loss;
abdominal pain;
watery diarrhea;
nausea, vomiting.

The disease can be caused by food intolerance, both allergic and non-allergic. Attempts to cure the child on our own with help folk remedies They will only do harm, since they will not eliminate the causes of the disease.

Eosinophilia in oncology

An increase in eosinophils is observed in malignant tumors:

nasopharynx;
bronchi;
stomach;
thyroid gland;
intestines.

Eosinophils are elevated in Hodgkin's disease, lymphoblastic, myeloblastic leukemia, Wilms tumor, acute eosinophilic leukemia, carcinomatosis.

In children more often than in others malignant diseases, acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurs (up to 80% of cases). Boys usually get sick; the critical age ranges from 1 to 5 years. The cause of the disease is a mutation in the lymphocyte precursor cell.

At risk are children with Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency conditions. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the blood test shows increased neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and ESR, and decreased lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and hemoglobin.

The child's lymph nodes become enlarged, starting with the cervical ones. The nodes do not fuse together and are painless, which is why they may not cause concern for either the child or the parents.

The prognosis of the disease in oncology depends to a large extent on the timeliness of contacting a pediatrician. Increase in temperature without visible reasons, fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes, child complaints about headache, pain in the legs, blurred vision - these symptoms cannot be ignored. They should definitely be a reason to contact your local pediatrician and get examined.

The job of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, is to destroy foreign proteins in the blood. These substances are formed in bone marrow, after which they enter the bloodstream for several hours, and from the bloodstream they are distributed into the tissues. This is where they do their main “work”. Eosinophils live for about 1-2 weeks. When a person does not have allergies, inflammation or cancer, these substances are within normal limits. The change in number is interpreted with different points vision. Let us examine in detail the concept of eosinophils and consider what their content in a blood test means.

Tasks of eosinophils

The main task of eosinophils is the elimination of foreign harmful agents. Their destruction occurs at the extracellular level; their capabilities also include the elimination of fairly large organisms. The effect begins when the contents of intracellular granules are released. Compared to neutrophils, the ability for phagocytosis in the agents we are considering is less, but it is still present. This is not their main task, but they can destroy and absorb germs.

Let us list the main functions of eosinophilic granulocytes:

They have a toxic effect on helminths.
Eliminate the effect biologically active substances that caused allergies.
They help eliminate the consequences of the activity of bioactive substances that were produced by mast cells and basophils. The latter are the main causative agents of an allergic reaction. They also influence development severe forms diseases - Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.
Develop a highly sensitive reaction.
Awaken activity to kill bacteria.
Eliminate foreign cells by absorbing them.

Eosinophils fight allergens, leading to stabilization of the child or adult's condition

Normal indicator for children

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Eosinophilic granulocytes are part of the leukocyte formula of blood. The easiest and most reliable way to determine their number is to use general analysis blood.

Normal eosinophil cationic protein indices may fluctuate, which is directly related to age. In children, the number of eosinophilic granulocytes is higher than in adults. So, in newborn babies - up to 8%, in older children - up to 5-6%.

The indicators that determine the norm will vary depending on the laboratory conducting the study. This is influenced by the reagents used, equipment and units of measurement adopted in a particular medical institution. Most laboratories measure the eosinophilic granulocyte count as a percentage of the total white blood cell count. Those. in the end we don't see total number cells, and their proportion among leukocytes.

It is important to keep in mind that the result obtained is relative. Based on this technique, eosinophilic granulocytes normally comprise:

for newborns - from 1 to 6-8%;
for infants from 15 days to a year – 1-5%;
1-2 years – 1-7%;
205 years – 1-6%;
5-15 years – 1-4%;
over 15 years of age - up to 5%.

IN infancy Eosinophil counts are the highest

Existing tables allow you to independently determine whether the test result is normal or there are deviations. To count absolute number eosinophilic granulocytes in the blood, the following unit of measurement is taken as a basis: 10^9/l.

The following indicators are considered the norm:

from birth to one year – 0.05-0.4;
from 1 year to 6 years – 0.02-0.3;
for children over 6 years old and adults – 0.02-0.5.

Why are eosinophils elevated?

The condition when a person has an increased number of eosinophilic granulocytes in the body to 10-15% is called eosinophilia. This increase in eosinophils is accompanied by a slightly elevated or normal white blood cell count. Eosinophilic granulocytes are actively produced in the bone marrow defensive reaction for the appearance of foreign protein in the blood.

An increased content of cationic protein of eosinophils affects the appearance of changes in internal organs, which is a consequence of a lack of oxygen in tissues and cells.

Eosinophil cationic protein indices may become higher for various reasons:

Protective reaction to exposure to allergens. The immune system begins active work when allergic lesions occur skin or bronchial asthma. It is immunity that gives the signal to increase the production of eosinophilic granulocytes.
The process of recovery after an infection. The body recovers and begins to strengthen the immune system, creating a large number of eosinophils.
The presence of helminthic infestations (ascariasis, toxocariasis, giardiasis, opisthorchiasis). Being a chronic irritant, helminthic infestations provoke the immune system to regularly produce eosinophils. It is important to know that fluctuations in the number of eosinophilic granulocytes can also occur in healthy child. Sometimes, after retaking the analysis, the first elevated data are replaced by normal ones.

An increase in the number of eosinophils may indicate a possible helminthic infestation

Diseases connective tissue(vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma). These diseases provoke the onset of inflammation in the body, and after it the production large quantity eosinophilic granulocytes.
Diseases at the level of the endocrine system.
Rheumatoid pathology.
Blood diseases, including cancer.
A number of skin diseases (eczema, dermatitis, pemphigus) (we recommend reading:).
Reception medicines(adrenocorticotropic hormones, antibiotics, sulfonamides).
Consequences of frostbite and burns.
Lack of magnesium ions in the children's body.

Exceeding the level of eosinophilic granulocytes by more than 20% is a reason to seriously think about it and consult a doctor. Often the cause of this phenomenon is Giardia, Trichinella or Ascaris. There are cases when the normal index increased by 50% at once, which means that the examination of the child for opisthorchiasis cannot be postponed, because this disease gives the following symptoms (we recommend reading:).

Increased eosinophils and monocytes

Monocytes and eosinophils increase in the presence of infectious processes (more details in the article:). A typical example is mononucleosis in children and adults. A similar situation is also observed in patients with fungal and viral diseases, as well as syphilis, tuberculosis, rickettsiosis and sarcoidosis.

Increased eosinophils and lymphocytes

Presence of viral infectious diseases in allergic children often leads to an increase in the level of lymphocytes and eosinophils (see also:). A similar situation is possible in patients with helminthiasis and allergic dermatoses. These rates are also elevated in adults and children taking antibiotics and sulfonamides.

To make sure there is no helminthiasis, you need to take a stool test for worm eggs.

False results

The possibility of erroneous determination of the number of eosinophilic granulocytes should be taken into account. They are always stained with eosin, while basophils are not stained at all, and neutrophils have a double possibility. It happens that neutrophils are also stained with eosin, and this affects the final picture. As a result we will see low index neutrophils and increased – eosinophils. To be on the safe side, Dr. Komarovsky recommends repeating the analysis.

Why are eosinophils low?

A low eosinophil count (less than 0.05) is called eosinopenia. Such a small number of cells shows that the body’s defenses are weak and cannot withstand the harmful factors present.

Why might the level become lower? Often the reason lies in an existing pathology:

some acute intestinal infectious diseases ( typhoid fever, dysentery);
acute appendicitis;
sepsis;
injuries, burns, surgeries;
the first day of development of myocardial infarction;
Availability acute inflammation(at first the substances are completely absent, and then an excess of the norm is noted, which will indicate recovery).

The cause of a decrease in the number of eosinophils can be overexertion and stress.

A decrease in the level of eosinophilic granulocytes is sometimes not at all associated with pathology. This is often caused by excessive physical activity, psycho-emotional stress, and the influence of adrenal hormones.

Eosinophils play a special role in the human body. The concentration of these cells is one of the most important parameters of a clinical blood test. Eosinophils create a special barrier against foreign proteins and allergens, and also promote rapid wound healing. If their number does not exceed the limits normal values, this indicates that children's body reliably protected from pathogens. Decrease or increase in the level of white cells - alarm signal, warning about the development of inflammatory processes.

Pediatricians regularly refer their patients to donate blood. Doctors often manage to prevent the development of many diseases even before the first symptoms appear.

Eosinophils and their role in the body

Eosinophilic granulocytes are a subtype of leukocytes. White cells are produced in the bone marrow, and they get their name because of their characteristic color. Eosinophils, unlike other types of white cells, absorb Chemical substance eosin, which gives the cell a bright pink hue.

Most of the eosinophils accumulate in tissues and organs, only a small part of them remains in the bloodstream. Cells perform protective function, they are aimed at destroying all foreign agents in the body.

Interleukins, substances synthesized by macrophages, keratinocytes, etc., stimulate the production of eosinophils. Life cycle Taurus life is on average 2–5 days. If an infection enters the body, the cell, having fulfilled its function, dies within a few hours. If the clinical analysis shows an increase in the level of cationic protein of eosinophils, this indicates that the available number of cells is not enough to contain the pathological process.

The normal level of eosinophils in a child’s blood

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Compared to other formed elements, there are very few eosinophils in the blood. IN laboratory tests they are most often shown as percentages. The concentration of corpuscles may change under the influence of a number of factors (age, gender, health status, etc.). A newborn and a child under 12 years of age contain more leukocytes than an adult. The increased content of cationic protein of eosinophils is due to prolonged inflammatory processes, poor personal hygiene, infection with helminths and allergic conditions.

The concentration of cells is also influenced by the time of day chosen for collecting tests, which is why the blood sampling procedure is carried out in the morning. The concentration of cells is calculated by the ratio of their number to the total number of leukocytes. The norm of eosinophils in children by age is presented in the table:

In adolescents and adults, the concentration of eosinophils relative to the total number of leukocytes is normally 1–5%, which in in absolute terms is (0.02–0.3)x10 9 per liter. Cell counting is carried out on the basis of leukocyte indices, therefore only experienced specialist can determine whether the results obtained are a variant of the norm, or we're talking about about the development of the pathological process.

The famous pediatrician O. E. Komarovsky recommends that parents do not panic if the child has high eosinophils and basophils. In this case, we may not be talking about the development of a particular disease, but a tendency to allergies. You need to wait 3-4 months and then re-test. If the situation does not change, you need to examine the baby for helminthiasis and determine the level of immunoglobulin E.

Reasons for increased eosinophil levels

When eosinophils are elevated in a child, this often indicates the development of one or another pathology. The reasons for the increase in the concentration of this type of leukocytes may be:

an allergic reaction, often asymptomatic;
development of hypersensitivity to medications taken;
lack of magnesium in the body (rare);
helminthic infestation (especially when infected with roundworms, lamblia and echinococcus);
chronic gastrointestinal tract diseases;
skin diseases (dermatitis, mycosis, eczema, etc.);
oncology;
autoimmune diseases.

Often after the mother takes certain medications or eats cow's milk in babies who are on breastfeeding, eosinophils may be increased in the blood. Sometimes the increased content of cationic protein of eosinophils in infants is caused by hereditary factors.

Sometimes, during long illness, an excess of eosinophil concentration (not higher than 10%) indicates positive dynamics. This means that the child will soon recover.

Why does the eosinophil count decrease or become zero?

An elevated eosinophil count usually does not bode well, but their concentration below normal or completely absent is also a cause for concern. Low eosinophils (less than 4%) indicate exhaustion of the body and that the immune system cannot cope with the load.

This condition is typical for children who have recently undergone surgery, who have received burns, injuries, or who are on initial stage development infectious process. Sometimes white cells are reduced or absent in babies after debilitating physical activity or prolonged psycho-emotional stress.

A sharp drop in the number of eosinophilic cells in the blood may signal the development of appendicitis, sepsis or infectious diseases. There is evidence that children with Down syndrome experience a slight decrease in the concentration of eosinophils.

Deviation from the norm cannot be treated in any way. The situation can be changed only after the exact cause that led to the similar conditions. To do this, the doctor conducts comprehensive examination patient and prescribes appropriate treatment, the effectiveness of which will be monitored based on the results of laboratory tests.

Eosinophils and other blood cells

Circulatory system in human body performs many various functions. Blood transports useful material, nourishing tissues and organs, transports decay products that need to be disposed of. There are cells in the blood that perform a protective function.

Human blood consists of a liquid part, including proteins, sugars, fats, trace elements, and various cells(erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, etc.). Clinical analysis blood helps the specialist to obtain information about the condition of the small patient.

In addition to eosinophils, other types of leukocytes also circulate in human blood. They differ in many ways (structure, development, size, shape, etc.). What protector cells have in common is the presence of a nucleus and the ability to move. Blood cells are colorless, which is why they get their name “white cells.”

Of all the white cells present in the blood most are composed of segmented neutrophils. IN percentage their concentration is 59%. When neutrophils decrease, this indicates that an infection has entered the body. There are slightly fewer lymphocytes in the blood of a child over 6 years old – about 46%. An increase in lymphocytes may indicate the development inflammatory process. Decreased lymphocytes– this is a cause for concern; often low levels indicate the development of a serious pathology. Monocytes make up about 8%, basophils - no more than 1%, and band neutrophils - about 2%.

A small form with the results of a general blood test. It is difficult to understand anything in these numbers and percentages without having medical education. However, there is nothing terrible in the fact that any parent will begin to navigate the basic parameters of the study. Therefore, today we will talk about what the norm of eosinophils in the blood of children should be, what kind of cells they are, what they are responsible for, and what to do if the test results in your baby’s card do not coincide with the norm.

Why do we need eosinophils?

To begin with, we note that eosinophils are part of the population of white blood cells - leukocytes. In the analysis form, leukocytes are indicated as the number of cells x10*9/l. Since eosinophils are part of leukocytes, the form indicates the norm of eosinophils in the blood of children as a percentage.

IN laboratory diagnostics Eosin dye is used to identify cells. It is perfectly absorbed by eosinophils, which is why they got their name.

Their responsibilities include:

The rate can range from 1 to 5%. This is typical for both newborns and adult children. There is an optimal eosinophil count specific to each return.

Let us make a reservation that this is an “ideal” value, but depending on the conditions of blood collection, it can be higher or lower, but always within the range of normal values. What are these conditions? It is known that the rate of eosinophils in the blood of children increases by 15% in the morning and evening. This is due to the work of the adrenal glands. Therefore, it is recommended to take blood early in the morning on an empty stomach.

If there are more eosinophils than needed.

This situation is called eosinophilia. Depending on the age of the baby, there may be various reasons for it.

For children from birth to 6 months:

Rhesus conflict and subsequent hemolytic disease newborns;
atopic dermatitis, which often debuts during this period;
serum sickness;
infection with staphylococcus and diseases associated with it.

From 6 months to 3 years:

drug and food allergies;
helminths;
atopic dermatitis.

After 3 years:

helminths (pinworms, lamblia, trichinella, whipworm, echinococcus);
allergic rhinitis, urticaria, Quincke's edema, hay fever;
atopic dermatitis;
bronchial asthma;
autoimmune pathology (periarteritis nodosa, focal and systemic scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis);
leukemia;
some infectious diseases.

If there are not enough cells.

This is a rarer occurrence than elevated eosinophils. This condition is called eosinopenia. She meets:

On the background endocrine pathology(adrenal and thyroid glands);
For severe infection purulent in nature, which causes big changes in leukocyte formula. In this case, the immune system initially reacts violently, increasing the number of leukocytes circulating in the blood. And then this reserve is depleted, and we can observe, along with eosinopenia, a decrease in all blood parameters;
Intoxication with heavy metals. For children, this is arsenic, mercury vapor from broken thermometer, lead;
At surgical pathology(appendicitis in children, acute abdomen);
In the midst of leukemia.

What to do next?

Despite the variety of pathologies presented, in practice, most often the test results indicate an allergic reaction or the presence of worms in the body. To identify the real reason the pediatrician prescribes additionally.

Reduced and elevated eosinophils in a child’s blood – an extremely important indicator of health developing organism, which, if necessary, signals the manifestation of a number of diseases of various etiologies. These cells are a type of white blood cell that eliminates multiple pathogens that have penetrated barriers immune system.

Movement with the help of pseudopods, small mass, as well as the streamlined shape of the body together contribute to a more unhindered and active introduction of protective granular structures into inflamed tissues with further suppression of the causative agents of the disease. What can the level of eosinophils tell you? What aspects of hematology analysis must be paid attention to in order to correctly interpret the results?

Table with acceptable indicators

In the final blood diagnostic forms, the results are expressed in 2 forms: one of them involves a quantitative count of individual eosinophilic cells located in 1 ml of biomaterial, and the other - a percentage of the total number of all leukocytes. In order not to get confused in the notation, it is recommended to pay attention to the units of measurement indicated in brackets:

Sometimes protective granulocytes are referred to by the Latin abbreviation "EO". Detection of an extremely small deviation of eosinophils from the specified values, for example, by hundredths or tenths, is usually not a cause for concern. Often, in the results given, parents can see a discrepancy in the content of many shaped elements blood according to prescribed standards.

In fact, laboratory comparison tables often indicate acceptable variations only for an adult. Therefore, it is the pediatrician who is familiar with the characteristics of each age category of minor patients and their indicators who will be able to decipher the extract in detail.

Causes of increased cell content

A pathological increase in eosinophils in the blood of a child under 2–3 years of age may indicate diseases of a predominantly inflammatory, autoimmune or infectious nature:

staphylococcus;
anemia;
bronchial asthma;
tuberculosis;
colitis;
laryngeal stenosis;
atopic eczema;
pneumonia;
Wilms tumor (malignant kidney disease);
allergic rhinitis;
Quincke's edema;
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus);
scarlet fever;
tracheitis;
hemolytic disease (breakdown of blood cells);
sepsis transmitted from the mother;
pemphigus (or pemphigus);
measles;
allergies to various medications(found everywhere);
laryngitis;
carcinoma;
lymphoblastic leukemia;
Hodgkin's disease (overgrowth of large cellular structures lymphoid system).

If a pregnant woman had an Rh conflict during gestation (incompatibility between the mother and her child according to the Rh factor), then the eosinophil count increases again.

When the baby gets sick chicken pox(chickenpox), his hematological analysis will indicate a moderately high level of granulocytes

In children older than 3–4 years, an increase in eosinophils already indicates larger number pathologies:

angioedema;
gastritis;
contact dermatitis;
mononucleosis;
scleroderma (thickening of the skin);
hives;
hay fever (allergic rhinitis or runny nose);
vulgar psoriasis;
pancreatitis;
vasculitis;
stomach ulcer;
gonorrhea;
lymphoma;
systemic lupus;
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (a disease characterized by a severe decrease in platelets in the blood and suppression of the immune system, which manifests itself exclusively in males);
cirrhosis of the liver;
pleurisy of the lungs.

Among the most common are chlamydia, roundworms, lamblia, nematodes, trichinella, hookworms, histolytic amoebas, toxoplasma, bovine tapeworm, malarial plasmodia, tapeworms and echinococci. Infection with opisthorchiasis, in turn, is fraught with the most severe consequences, since these flatworms are located mainly in gallbladder, pancreas and liver, subjecting them to slow destruction. Hypereosinophilia is described in a little more detail in this article.

Why are eosinophils low in the blood?

A critically low level of blood cells or their complete absence is called eosinopenia. It is observed against the background of the following ailments:

advanced leukemia;
cholecystitis;
acute cholelithiasis;
poisoning by such chemical elements like arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, phenol, bismuth and copper;
appendicitis;
suppuration;
primary stage of myocardial infarction;
pancreatitis;
varicose eczema.

If a child is constantly exposed to stress or periodic emotional turmoil, a deficiency of eosinophils will show this with a high degree of probability

Natural changes in the number of formed elements

If a woman prefers to feed her newborn baby not breast milk, but exclusively with purchased formulas based on cow’s milk, then she needs to be prepared for the fact that the baby’s immunity may react quite sharply to the replacement of a natural multivitamin with synthetic products. Most often, unnatural nutrition leads to an allergic reaction.

Rescheduled surgery also affects the blood composition of children: at least a week of rehabilitation will be accompanied by high eosinophils without harm to health. The adoption of a series works in a similar way. medical supplies, including Papaverine, Aspirin and Penicillin.

Young girls 11–14 years old who have already experienced menarche - the first menstruation, may find in the laboratory extract an excess of the level of eosinophilic leukocytes, which will indicate a completely normal functioning a rebuilding organism. First 2–3 days menstrual cycle are characterized by a maximum jump in the content of eosinophils in the blood; their number will gradually decrease and return to normal after 5–7 days.

A decrease in protective bodies is often recorded after grueling physical training. 2–4 days before diagnosis it is better to refrain from active image life. To ensure that the results of hematological studies are not distorted, it is recommended to monitor the daily intake of children and adolescents confectionery on the eve of the procedure – excessive consumption of sweets will contribute to a temporary change in the structure of the biomaterial.

An important addition to all of the above: the concentration of eosinophils undergoes changes even in the absence of external influence. Thus, closer to night, the indicator may exceed the limit of 20–25%; in the morning and in the first half of the day, the parameter decreases to the usual level. For this reason, specialists try to schedule a blood test for a maximum of 09:30 hours.

It is best to try to stabilize the child’s diet at least 2-3 days before diagnosing eosinophils, adding mainly vegetables, cereals, fruits, low-fat soups and salads - this will cleanse the intestines and blood

What to do if deviations are detected?

According to the opinion of Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky, a famous Ukrainian pediatrician and leading medical program, fathers and mothers should not be worried if in the background small increase eosinophils, their children do not have any suspicious symptoms or complaints about their physiological condition.

It is necessary, without panic, to visit the pediatrician again and, if necessary, an infectious disease specialist, nutritionist or allergist, and ask any questions you may have. Most likely, the child may be prescribed laboratory test feces on helminthic infestation, and biochemical analysis blood and testing for allergic reactions.

If none diagnostic procedure has not confirmed the presence of pathologies, which means that over the next 4-6 months you don’t have to worry about the baby’s condition. When the time comes, for the purpose of prevention, a control analysis should be performed again. Counting the number of eosinophils is carried out by people almost manually, so the human factor cannot be excluded either.