What Causes Abnormal Eosinophil Count?

Abnormal eosinophil count can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose abnormal eosinophil count, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "abnormal eosinophil count" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Drug Side-Effects
Asthma
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Leukemia
Vasculitis
Hay Fever
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

hay fever

swollen axillary nodes

night sweats

low lymphocyte count

regular runny nose

moderate abdominal pain

intermittent difficult exhalation

Caucasian ethnicity

having very low melatonin levels

chronic nausea

history of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

loss of appetite

... and more than 50 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of abnormal eosinophil count:

Cause	Probability	Status
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma	99%	Confirm
Vasculitis	29%	Unlikely
Dermatitis Herpetiformis	20%	Unlikely
Hay Fever	2%	Ruled out
Drug Side-Effects	1%	Ruled out
Hodgkin's Lymphoma	0%	Ruled out
Asthma	0%	Ruled out
Leukemia	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate having had recent lab tests, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

White blood Cells - Eosinophil Percentage [fraction]

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ 0 to 6% [0.00-0.06] (normal)
→ 7 to 10% [0.07-0.10] (slightly elevated)
→ 11-20% [0.11-0.20] (elevated)
→ Over 20% [0.20] (high)

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate normal eosinophil count, slightly elevated eosinophil count, elevated eosinophil count or highly elevated eosinophil count, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

(Prescription) Drug Side-Effects

Addison's Disease

Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever

Asthma

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Collagen Vascular Disease

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hodgkin's lymphoma often causes severe eosinophilia.

Leukemia

Acute Eosinophilic Leukemia (AEL) is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia in which most of the cells in the blood and marrow are eosinophilic cells. Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia (CEL) is a disease in which too many eosinophils are made in the bone marrow.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

As with Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma causes eosinophilia (elevated eosinophil levels), but to a lesser degree.

Parasite Infection

Vasculitis

Weakened Immune System

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