Eosinophilia is a condition in which the
eosinophil count in the
peripheral blood exceeds 4.5×10
8/L (450/µl). Eosinophils usually account for less than 7% of the circulating leukocytes. A marked increase in non-blood tissue eosinophil count noticed upon histopathologic examination is diagnostic for tissue eosinophilia. Several causes are known, with the most common being some form of
allergic reaction or
parasitic infection. Diagnosis of eosinophilia is via a
complete blood count (CBC), but diagnostic procedures directed at the underlying cause vary depending on the suspected condition(s). An absolute eosinophil count is not generally needed if the CBC shows marked eosinophilia. The location of the causal factor can be used to classify eosinophilia into two general types: extrinsic, in which the factor lies outside of the eosinophil cell lineage; and intrinsic eosinophilia, which denotes etiologies within the eosiniphil cell line. Specific treatments are dictated by the causative condition, though in
idiopathic eosinophilia, the disease may be controlled with
corticosteroids. Eosinophilia is not a
disorder (rather, only a
sign) unless it is idiopathic.