White blood cells (WBC) are a vital part of our immune system. Eosinophils are one of five types of WBCs found in the human body; all are produced by the bone marrow. Eosinophils account for less than 7% of all circulating white blood cells and have two distinct functions: they destroy invading germs and create an inflammatory response, particularly if an allergy is involved. A healthcare professional may recommend an eosinophil count if you’ve already had a blood differential test and the results were abnormal. Specifically, an eosinophil count may be useful in the diagnoses of the following:
- An allergic reaction
- Infection by a parasite
- Cushing’s disease (a disorder caused by too much of the steroid hormone cortisol).
A low number of eosinophils do not usually cause problems as other parts of the immune system can compensate adequately. It may be caused by:
- Cushing’s disease
- Bloodstream infection (sepsis)
- Treatment with corticosteroids
- Alcohol intoxication
Eosinophilia (a unusually high number of eosinophils in the blood) is linked to a variety of disorders, including:
- Allergic disease
- Parasitic infection
- Asthma
- Autoimmune disease
- Cancers of the blood, such as Leukemia and Hodgkin lymphoma
There are some medications known to cause an increase in eosinophil count, including:
- Some antibiotics
- Tranquilizers
- Appetite suppressants
- Laxatives that contain psyllium
- Interferon, a drug used to treat infection
$79 per year
$6.60 per month billed annually
Use promocode
$79 per year
$250 single payment
$45 per month
Save time on interpreting lab results with the largest database of biomarkers online. In-depth research on any test at your fingertips, all stored and tracked in one place.
Learn MoreAt HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Band Neutrophils (%), Basophils (Absolute), Basophils (Percent), Eosinophils "Eos" (Absolute), Eosinophils "Eos" (Percent), Lymphocytes "Lymphs" (Absolute), Lymphocytes "Lymphs" (Percent), Monocytes (Absolute), Monocytes (Percent), Neut/Lymph Ratio, Neutrophils (Absolute), Neutrophils (Percent), Polymorphs, Segmented Neutrophils, Segmented Neutrophils (Percent)