The most common cause of pulmonary eosinophilia is parasitic infections like Strongyloides, hookworms or Ascaris lumbricoides.
In developed countries, like the United States, the most common causes and culprits of pulmonary eosinophilia are drug reactions like from illicit drugs, antibiotics, NSAIDs and even idiopathic conditions like chronic or acute eosinophilic pneumonia.
Pulmonary eosinophilia also encompasses a group of lung diseases that are characterized by high levels of eosinophils, which are a type of white blood cell in the lungs and or bloodstream.
Conditions like Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome) feature severe pulmonary eosinophilia alongside inflammation of the blood and can lead to pulmonary eosinophilia.
Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) is a common cause of pulmonary eosinophilia, typically seen in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis who develop an allergic reaction to Aspergillus fungus.
And allergic reactions to prescription medications like penicillin, minocycline or sulfonamides as well as tobacco use and illicit drug use as well as vaping can also cause acute eosinophilic pneumonia.
Although eosinophils are crucial in the body for fighting off certain parasites and also for controlling infections, excessively high levels of eosinophils also known as eosinophilia can result in them infiltrating and damaging of health tissue, which leads to severe localized or even systemic complications.
When the eosinophils migrate out of your bloodstream and into your tissues, they will release toxic proteins, which cause chronic inflammation and organ damage.
The specific health issues that eosinophilia causes, depends on where the cells actually accumulate.
Heart damage or cardiovascular damage is the most dangerous complication with eosinophilia.
High eosinophil levels can cause inflammation of your heart muscle, which is also known as myocarditis, heart failure and even blood clots, which also increase your risk of heart attacks or stroke.
lung and respiratory issues can also occur with eosinophilia as infiltration of the airways causes severe inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and even airway constriction, which significantly worsens conditions such as asthma.
Gastrointestinal complications can also occur with eosinophilia, as excess eosinophils in your digestive tract can trigger Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases, which causes severe acid reflux, swallowing difficulties, stomach pain and even tissue damage.
Infiltration can also cause skin problems, like chronic rashes, severe itching or pruritus, hives or angioedema "swelling.
And in severe cases of eosinophilia, like Hyper eosinophilic Syndrome, eosinophils can also affect your brain and your nerves, potentially resulting in confusion, nerve damage or behavioral changes.
And chronic or extreme levels of eosinophils may also be a warning sign for underlying bone marrow disorders like chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia and myeloproliferative diseases.