Increased levels of eosinophils in the blood of a child. Increased eosinophils in the blood of a child. Increased level of eosinophils in the blood of a child

When at least one of the indicators in a child’s blood test is elevated, this always alarms parents. Especially if we are talking about one of the types of leukocytes, because many mothers know that these cells guard the child’s immunity. And this means that they increased amount may signal that your son or daughter has some kind of health problem. Why might a child experience an increase in the number of eosinophils and what parental actions would be correct in the event of such changes in the blood test?

Why are eosinophils needed?

Eosinophils are formed in the bone marrow, like other blood cells, and after entering the bloodstream they reside either in capillaries or in various tissues of the body (in the respiratory tract, skin, intestinal cells and other places). In peripheral blood they are detected in relatively small quantities. Interesting feature of such cells is that eosinophils can actively move using the amoeboid method. This is how they “approach” the desired infectious agent or toxin that needs to be neutralized.

The eosinophil level is determined in a blood test by counting leukocyte formula. The level of such cells is expressed as a percentage of the total number of white cells.

The upper limit of the norm for children is considered to be:

No more than 5% of eosinophils under the age of one year (in newborns up to the 10th day of life, the upper limit will be 4%).
No more than 4% of eosinophils in children who are already 1 year old.

If eosinophils in a child's blood are elevated, this condition is called eosinophilia. It can be reactive (small) when the level of these leukocytes increases to a maximum of 15%. Moderate eosinophilia is also isolated if this type of leukocyte makes up 15-20% of all white blood cells. A rate of more than 20% indicates high eosinophilia. In some children with an active pathological process, eosinophils represent 50% of all leukocytes or even more.

Causes of eosinophilia

The most common causes of eosinophils exceeding the normal percentage in childhood represented by allergic reactions and helminthic infestations. If they are present, the child exhibits predominantly reactive eosinophilia, that is, the rate rarely exceeds 10-15%.

Allergies are very common pathologies in children these days. They can be triggered by allergenic substances from food, household chemicals, animal hair, plant pollen and other things. With Quincke's edema, urticaria, exudative diathesis, bronchial asthma and neurodermatitis, the level of eosinophils always increases.

Worms are also very common problem in children, since many children do not fully comply with hygiene rules - they do not wash their hands or wash them not thoroughly enough, eat unwashed vegetables, and communicate with animals. All these factors increase the risk of infection with helminths, among which the most common in children are roundworms and pinworms.

Eosinophilia, which is caused by a genetic factor, stands out separately. In addition, an increased number of eosinophils may be detected in children who have recently had pneumonia or hepatitis. After such illnesses as in postoperative period and after injuries, eosinophilic leukocytes can be detected above normal for quite a long time.

Symptoms

If a child has eosinophilia, this condition does not manifest itself with specific symptoms, but will have a clinical picture of the underlying disease that provoked a change in the leukogram. The child may experience high fever, anemia, enlarged liver, heart failure, joint pain, weight loss, muscle pain, skin rash and other symptoms.

At allergic diseases there will be complaints of itchy skin, dry cough, dermatitis, runny nose and other signs of allergic reactions. If the cause of eosinophilia is roundworms or pinworms, the child’s sleep will be disturbed, itching will appear in the anus and genitals, appetite and body weight will change.

What to do

If you find elevated eosinophils in your child’s analysis, you should consult your doctor. The pediatrician will examine the child and refer him for a repeat test to rule out the possibility erroneous result. Also, if necessary, other studies will be prescribed - urine analysis, coprogram, biochemical analysis blood, checking stool for helminth eggs, serological tests, and so on.

Treatment for eosinophilia should be aimed at the cause of this blood change.

As soon as general condition the child improves, and the symptoms of the disease that caused high eosinophils will disappear, the leukocyte formula will also normalize.

You can learn more about eosinophils by watching the following video.

Komarovsky about eosinophils
Norm
Increased value

Eosinophils can be brought back to normal only after determining the root cause of the development of abnormalities in the body of children. Dr. Komarovsky hurries to reassure parents, who, after reading all possible reasons eosinophilia, they begin to fear that their child has some kind of life-threatening disease.

He says that according to statistics, in most cases deviations in indicators are caused by food allergies or worms. Also, eosinophilic cells often increase during influenza or bacterial infection. What should parents do?

First, go through full examination the baby’s body to find out what exactly provokes the growth of leukocyte cells. To do this, they take a blood, urine, and stool test. They look for worm eggs or pathogens. If the baby has symptoms of respiratory inflammation, then additional mucus is collected from the throat for culture.

Secondly, once installed accurate diagnosis, it is important to monitor treatment. Children do not like to take medications or may overdose on medications if left to do this task on their own.

Therefore, it is necessary to control the treatment process and avoid interruptions and overdoses. You should also evaluate your health status to see if some medications are causing symptoms of side effects. In such cases, the doctor will select safer remedies.

Thirdly, after therapeutic course it is necessary to accustom the child to preventive measures. For example, if he is diagnosed with ascariasis, then the child should be taught to take care of personal hygiene (wash hands before eating, do not eat unwashed foods, etc.). This way you will protect him from re-infection with worms.

In addition, it is important to avoid contact with allergens - animals, insects, pollen or other irritants.

Reasons for decreased eosinophil levels

They perform protective function, being phagocytes that absorb foreign protein structures.

Eosinophils help overcome the harmful effects of infection, relieve inflammation and accelerate tissue regeneration processes. In addition, they are involved in the formation of allergic reactions.

These blood elements are formed in the bone marrow, from stem cells - the precursors of all types of leukocytes. After formation, eosinophils enter the bloodstream and then into tissues.

On the result form clinical analysis the level of these bodies is indicated by a percentage or quantitative indicator. Normally, their concentration depends significantly on age.

The percentage of eosinophils in children from birth to 12 years of age changes as follows:

Despite the fact that a decrease in the volume of special white blood cells is not normal, it is less dangerous than their sharp increase.

Eosinopenia occurs in conditions such as:

Suppression of functions bone marrow which is observed during therapy with antitumor and antibacterial drugs, as well as after poisoning and radiation treatment malignant neoplasms. The synthesis of all leukocytes is inhibited, so the volume of eosinophils also decreases.
Infectious lesions in acute stage, especially when the pathogens are bacteria. The absolute indicator of eosinophils may not change significantly, but against the background of an increase in the number of other white blood cells, their percentage decreases. This eosinopenia is called relative.
Excessive physical activity. Even though overexertion is not a disease, the number of eosinophils is still reduced. The body responds to physical stress by increasing other types of leukocytes, which is why the percentage of eosinophils, as in infectious pathologies, becomes smaller. It is noteworthy that after overload, the number of special white blood cells is restored without medication.
Hyperfunction of the adrenal glands. When too many corticosteroids produced by these endocrine glands enter the bloodstream, eosinophil levels drop. Hormones inhibit their ripening and entry into the blood from bone marrow structures. In some cases, a decrease in the number of eosinophils also occurs when a person takes corticosteroids in the form medicines.

Normal eosinophil count and decreased

There are other causes of eosinopenia that are less common:

severe psycho-emotional stress;
severe injuries and surgical operations;
critical deterioration of the condition in those suffering from diabetes and renal failure.

The mechanisms of formation of eosinopenia in all age groups are similar, but in children it is, in most cases, caused by:

prematurity and congenital genetic pathologies associated with the functions of the bone marrow or adrenal glands, as a result of which the process of eosinophil formation is disrupted;
Down syndrome, in which eosinopenia is constantly observed;
psycho-emotional overloads, which are more difficult to bear in childhood than in adults. This is explained by the imperfection and special sensitivity of the nervous system;
weak immunity. This is typical for children and is due to the fact that immune system not yet fully formed;
frequent infectious pathologies.

If we compare the number of eosinophils with the volume of other blood elements, such cells are few in number.

Eosinophilia

In practice, a much more common condition is one in which eosinophils are elevated, receiving medical name eosinophilia.

The causes of eosinophilia in children are divided into the following groups:

Depending on how elevated the child’s eosinophils are, three stages of the disease are distinguished:

mild - slightly increased level (up to 10%), called reactive or allergic,
moderate - the level of cells increased to 15%, characteristic of helminth infections,
severe - a high level of eosinophils, which exceeds 15% and can reach 50%, is often accompanied by oxygen starvation and changes in internal organs.

In the severe stage, the child usually has elevated monocytes.

Bone marrow dysfunction can lead to a condition in which red blood cells and eosinophils are elevated at the same time. In this case, the hematopoietic system should be diagnosed.

If, against the background of eosinophilia, the baby has elevated basophils, then he should be shown to an allergist.

Knowing why the level of eosinophils in a child’s analysis may increase, parents will be able to monitor the effectiveness of the therapy prescribed by the pediatrician and understand the nature of certain prescriptions. As the underlying pathology is eliminated, the baby’s leukocyte blood count also normalizes over time.

At least once a year, or even more often, the pediatrician gives a referral for testing. Basically, this is a general blood and urine test. Imagine the surprise of parents when a deviation from the norm of at least one of the indicators is discovered. Especially if deviations from the norm concern any type of leukocytes. Everyone knows that it is these blood cells that are responsible for human immunity. These bodies contain eosinophils. A detailed blood test can show how much their indicator differs from the expected one, up or down. When Eosinophils are elevated in a child
– this requires special attention.

Eosinophils are a subtype of granular leukocytes. They acquired their name for their ability to react to the reagent eosin. With its help, in laboratory conditions, you can determine the number of these beneficial bodies in human blood. Due to their small size, their number is determined not by quantity, but by percentage of the total mass of white bodies. For an adult without health problems, this norm in a blood test is 5%. In children it is 3% higher. This is due to the fact that the matured body is already familiar with the allergens that the child is exposed to.

Eosinophils are created in the bone marrow and then they move into the bloodstream or capillaries. The ease of penetration is due to the small size and structure of the body. By appearance they resemble an amoeba with two nuclei. Thanks to the amoebic method of movement, these bodies easily penetrate into soft fabrics, internal organs and human epithelium. They spend no more than one hour directly in the blood itself.

With full and detailed analysis Eosinophils in the blood may be found to be elevated. What does this mean and how to deal with it? Let's take a closer look.

Causes of eosinophilia

The most common reasons for exceeding the normal percentage of eosinophils in childhood are allergic reactions and helminthic infestations. If they are present, the child exhibits predominantly reactive eosinophilia, that is, the rate rarely exceeds 10-15%.

Allergies are very common pathologies in children these days. They can be provoked by allergenic substances from food, household chemicals, animal hair, plant pollen and other things. With Quincke's edema, urticaria, exudative diathesis, bronchial asthma and neurodermatitis, the level of eosinophils always increases.

Worms are also a very common problem in children, since many children do not fully comply with hygiene rules - they do not wash their hands or do not wash them thoroughly enough, eat unwashed vegetables, and interact with animals. All these factors increase the risk of infection with helminths, among which the most common in children are roundworms and pinworms.

A high level of eosinophilic leukocytes is also detected when:

Lack of magnesium.
Leukemia and other benign or malignant tumors.
Polycythemia.
Rheumatism and systemic diseases.
Infections caused by protozoa.
Infectious mononucleosis.
Malaria.
Scarlet fever and other acute infections caused by bacteria.
Dermatitis, psoriasis and other skin diseases.
Vasculitis.
Tuberculosis.
Immunodeficiencies.
Burns covering a large area of the body.
Lung diseases.
Reduced function thyroid gland.
Cirrhosis of the liver.
Congenital heart defects.
Removal of the spleen.
Taking certain medications, such as sulfonamides, nitrofurans, hormonal drugs or antibiotics.
Increased tone of the vagus nerve.

If a child has eosinophilia, this condition does not manifest itself with specific symptoms, but will have a clinical picture of the underlying disease that provoked a change in the leukogram. The child may have a high fever, anemia, an enlarged liver, heart failure, joint pain, weight loss, muscle pain, skin rashes and other symptoms.

In case of allergic diseases, there will be complaints of itchy skin, dry cough, dermatitis, runny nose and other signs of allergic reactions. If the cause of eosinophilia is roundworms or pinworms, the child’s sleep will be disturbed, itching will appear in the anus and genitals, appetite and body weight will change.

If you find elevated eosinophils in your child’s analysis, you should consult your doctor. The pediatrician will examine the child and send him for a repeat test to rule out the possibility of an erroneous result. Also, if necessary, other tests will be prescribed - urine analysis, coprogram, biochemical blood test, checking stool for helminth eggs, serological tests, and so on.

Treatment for eosinophilia should be aimed at the cause of this blood change.

As soon as the child’s general condition improves and the symptoms of the disease that caused high eosinophils disappear, the leukocyte count also normalizes.

You can learn more about eosinophils by watching the following video.

Diagnosis and treatment principles

The main question diagnostic search with eosinophilia - what does this mean, why did it develop? The child's examination program will be built taking into account the statistics of the most likely causative factors.

A negative result of the first stage is an indication for consultation with an allergist. It should also be started with high eosinophilia (more than 15%). The doctor performs a series of skin tests and spirography (graphic assessment of respiratory function) if asthma is suspected. An examination by a dermatologist is indicated for any rash on the skin, especially if it is accompanied by itching. Also, children with eosinophilia are advised to consult a rheumatologist.

Hormonal examination is necessary in the absence of identified pathology at the previous stages. Typically, endocrinopathies are accompanied by an average increase in eosinophils (11-12-14%). Children are prescribed a blood test for pituitary and thyroid hormones.

If there is an abnormal picture of a general clinical blood test (the appearance of blasts or morphologically abnormal cells), it is necessary to perform a bone marrow puncture. With its help, it is possible to exclude oncohematological diseases. If lymphogranulomatosis is suspected, enlarged lymph nodes are punctured.

There is no self-treatment for eosinophilia. It is always carried out taking into account the causative disease. Therefore, accurate and correct diagnosis is very important.

Eosinophilia as a disease

The disease eosinophilia can be diagnosed when the level of leukocyte cells is increased by at least a third of the norm. It is quite difficult to characterize it as an independent disease. Basically, this disease manifests itself against the background of a more serious illness. Increased eosinophilic cells in the blood may mean that the child’s body is currently fighting another disease.

IN medical practice There have been cases where an infant was diagnosed with eosinophilia from birth. It could arise due to birth defect heart disease, immunodeficiency or cancer. Eosinophilia can also be observed in premature infants.

Signs of the disease

Sometimes, the presence of elevated eosinophils in a child’s blood can be determined by the child’s condition and external signs. Characteristic signs will be:

For allergies:

Redness, rashes;
Dermatitis, diaper rash;
dry skin, itching;

Sleep disturbances;
Lack of appetite;
Itching in anus or genitals;
Change in body weight.

Caused by other diseases:

General malaise, weakness, lethargy;
Heart failure;
Anemia;
Increased body temperature.

These are not all the symptoms that occur with elevated eosinophil levels. Basically, the symptoms of the disease are similar to the underlying disease. This means that only a blood leukogram will help determine the presence of eosinophilia.

There are three stages of eosinophilia: mild, moderate and high or major eosinophilia

I would like to draw your attention to the latter in more detail. This degree of the disease is characterized by high levels of eosinophils in the blood

They can reach 15% or more. In this case, there is a risk of developing monocytosis or leukocytosis of the blood.

Monocyte level healthy person is within 13%. They, like eosinophils, belong to granular leukocytes and their meeting indicates the presence dangerous infection or infection with helminths.

An increased number of leukocytes and eosinophilic bodies can develop against the background of viral infections when treated with antibiotics. If a child gets sick with scarlet fever, tuberculosis or the same helminths, the risk of developing major eosinophilia is very high.

What measures to take

The first thing you need to do is take a closer look at your child. If there are no external manifestations of the disease, the child feels great, and there is nothing to worry him about, then a repeat blood test should be taken. Perhaps, at the time of delivery, the child’s elevated eosinophils were not due to eosinophilia, but to something completely different. Only identifying the true cause will help solve the problem.

Be that as it may, the disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Timely examination and careful attitude towards the child’s health will be the key to a happy childhood.

Eosinophils are increased in a child (eosinophilia) - this is an increase in the number of cells in the blood higher permissible norm by age. Such a pathological process in most cases is a consequence of a specific disease in children's body, the nature of which can only be determined by a doctor by carrying out the necessary diagnostic measures. Quite often, an increased cell level is combined with a change in ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).

The increase in eosinophils in the blood of a child does not have a specific clinical picture– symptoms will depend only on the underlying factor, so you cannot independently compare symptoms and treatment. Such activities can lead to serious complications.

The level of eosinophils can only be determined diagnostic methods, and for this a blood test is performed

It should be noted that not only the content of eosinophils is taken into account, but also other elements of the leukocyte formula. Based on the results of such an analysis, the doctor will be able to determine a further diagnostic program, after which he will make a final diagnosis and also prescribe treatment.

Eosinophils in children are normal

Information about specific gravity eosinophils are contained in the leukocyte formula - a component of a clinical blood test. The normal rate is the same for both boys and girls.

Sometimes the absolute number of eosinophils is counted; it reflects the number of cells in one milliliter of blood.

The optimal level of eosinophils in% gradually decreases and after 16 years corresponds to the indicator established for adults. Lower limit the norm does not change.

The absolute number of cells in children is greater than in adults, since their total number of leukocytes is higher. With age, the normal number of eosinophils decreases. After the age of six, their complete absence is quite acceptable.

Eosinophil levels may fluctuate throughout the day. This phenomenon is explained by the peculiarities of the adrenal glands. At night, the content of eosinophils is the highest - it is one third higher than the daily average.

Most low level eosinophils are recorded in the morning and evening hours: almost 20% lower than the average value for the day.

For the blood test results to be correct, the test should be performed in the morning and on an empty stomach.

Treatment of eosinophilia

Since in most cases, eosinophilia is the body’s reaction to the presence of diseases (except hematological malignancies), in order to correct the level of leukocytes it is necessary to treat them. After the disease returns to a state of remission or is cured, the granulocyte level indicators return to normal on their own.

When prescribing treatment, it must be remembered that a decrease in the level of eosinophils against the background of an increase in other signs of the disease may not be a sign of an improvement in the process, but a significant release of eosinophil cells into the tissue. This is especially often observed in the presence of an exudative process.

Other indicators

Not only cationic protein, but also monocytes make it possible to determine the presence of various helminths in the child’s body. There are unknowns modern medicine reasons why, during helminthic invasion, the level of eosinophils remains within acceptable limits, but monocytes are significantly increased. Such indicators in a blood test should also cause concern for parents and doctors.

The number of monocytes in an adult (and children over 13 years of age) is 3–11 percent of general level leukocytes (0.1?0.6 x 109/l), and for younger ones - 2?12%.

Monocytes, the largest single-celled white blood cells, are formed in the bone marrow.
Having reached maturity, they circulate through the blood for about 70 hours. Then they penetrate the tissues of various organs and turn into cells that destroy bacteria and promote regeneration.

If the level of monocytes is increased, this indicates the presence of infectious diseases in the child (infection different types helminths).

Diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilia: how to deal with the problem

To diagnose the presence of eosinophilia and begin its treatment, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, including a biochemical blood test. To identify allergic pathogens, a swab from the nasal sinuses is taken. An analysis is carried out to detect helminths feces, in the presence of pathological processes of tissue infiltration, an x-ray is taken.

There is no cure for eosinophilia. To return the number of eosinophils to normal levels, it is necessary to identify the cause of the syndrome and treat it.

If a connection is found between a decrease in the number of white blood cells and the use of a certain medication, its use must be stopped immediately. The patient, if necessary, seek further assistance medical care, you should always tell your doctor if you have an allergic reaction to a particular medication.

Despite the fact that each manufacturer indicates possible side effects associated with individual intolerance to one or another component of the drug, it may be impossible to find out in advance about the presence of an allergy. When taking heavy medicines, which can cause allergies, a test is carried out - if it is necessary to take antibiotics, it is mandatory.

If eosinophilia in children and adults is a consequence negative reaction body to an external irritant, antihistamines are prescribed, and in particularly severe cases of an allergic reaction, hormonal therapy is carried out.

Autoimmune diseases are quite difficult to treat. In such cases, cytostatics are prescribed, medical supplies, used in treatment oncological diseases. Now you know why eosinophils in the blood can be elevated in adults and children.

In practice, to refute or, conversely, to confirm the presence of the disease, sick people need to take a blood test. Only its results will be able to accurately indicate whether the level of eosinophils is elevated. They also indicate the percentage of white cells, and recognize such signs of anemia as a lower number of red blood cells and a sharp decrease in hemoglobin.

First of all, if you suspect an increased number of eosinophils, you need to donate blood for a general analysis. In this case, the patient may experience a decrease in the level of red blood cells and a drop in hemoglobin. After this, a blood test is done for biochemistry to identify pathologies in various organs. They look at liver enzymes and estimate the amount of proteins. Additionally, feces are examined for the presence of worms. An X-ray of the lungs is also taken.

After the doctor makes an accurate diagnosis and identifies the main cause of the increase in eosinophils, he will select a course of therapy. Treatment depends on the disease that caused the body's reaction. Mostly medications are prescribed. But in some cases, on the contrary, medications that provoked an increase in the number of eosinophils are discontinued.

It is very important to diagnose the underlying disease in time to prevent the development of complications.

Change in quantity in childhood

The reasons for the development of eosinophilia in children are somewhat different from adults and have a fairly clear age classification. In children under six months of age, eosinophils outside the normative values are in most cases provoked by the following reasons:

Rhesus conflict;
staphylococcal sepsis;
atopic dermatitis;
eosinophilic colitis;
hemolytic or serum sickness.

Between the ages of six months and three years, eosinophilia in children develops due to the following prerequisites:

atopic dermatitis;
allergies to medications;
Quincke's edema, which in most cases is also of an allergic nature.

From the age of three years increased rate eosinophils in the blood of a child are mostly a manifestation of infectious diseases and allergic manifestations:

scarlet fever;
chicken pox;
allergic rhinitis;
allergies with manifestations on the skin.

Eosinophils in the blood exceeding the norm in combination with an increase in other indicators in the blood test are quite indicative. In particular, high eosinophils and monocytes are characteristic in the presence of an infectious process (this combination is indicative of mononucleosis), as well as in viral and fungal diseases.

If there are helminthic infestations, in this case it is necessary to pay attention to how the child feels, whether he has lost his appetite, whether he is capricious or not. Most often, the level of eosinophils increases in children if they have worms

2. As a manifestation of allergies. Most often, this condition is typical for infants, especially when cow's milk is introduced into their diet. If eosinophils increase, this is evidence that the child’s body is sensitive to this foreign protein. The same reaction can occur to some medications, eosinophilia may indicate intrauterine infection of the baby.

Remember that if the level of eosinophils increases, this indicates that an imbalance has occurred in the human body, which occurs during processes in the bone marrow. This condition is most often caused by a variety of diseases, especially infectious ones.

The norms of such particles in the blood are determined general analysis, and depend on the time of day, as well as the age of the patient. In the morning, evening and night, their number may increase due to changes in the functioning of the adrenal glands.

High eosinophils in the blood of a child are a fairly common phenomenon. In premature babies, this condition is considered a variant of the norm, and disappears when normal body weight is reached.

In other cases, the most common causes of increased cell levels are:

In newborns and infants artificial feeding Normally, eosinophils may be elevated due to a negative reaction to cow's milk, as well as a number of medications. Also, eosinophilia in infants can be a sign of Rh conflict, hemolytic disease, staphylococcal sepsis or enterocolitis, pemphigus and hereditary diseases– for example, familial histiocytosis.

Eosinophils in children are reduced if there are viral or bacterial infections and a general decrease in immunity. In addition, it can be caused by prolonged physical activity, severe psycho-emotional fatigue, as well as previous injuries, burns or surgical interventions.

In any case, a decrease or increase in the level of eosinophils in the blood is not an independent disease, but a symptom of a pathological process occurring in the body. To identify the problem and prescribe adequate treatment, the patient needs to undergo a set of additional studies and receive specialist advice.

Drugs and eosinophils in children

This type of blood cell has an excellent response to various medications.

Therefore, eosinophils may increase in children after taking carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant drug), tetracycline, the antibiotic erythromycin, phenothiazides and anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Eosinophils often increase in children due to taking methyldopa, penicillin and aminosalicylic acid

That’s why it’s so important, before using a drug on a child, to make sure that he doesn’t have an allergic reaction to a specific drug.

If a child has low eosinophils, this is also bad, because this indicates that an inflammatory process is beginning in the body; a decrease may indicate intoxication of the body and sepsis. about a purulent lesion

Therefore, it is very important to consult with your doctor after receiving test results. Because eosinophils are very important for the immune system, they help fight substances that cause a variety of diseases in oral cavity, intestines, respiratory and urinary tracts

In pediatrics, in order to determine whether a child is healthy or not, a general blood test is almost always prescribed. Of course, if any of the indicators are exceeded, it always scares parents. But it is the level of eosinophils that is most often responsible for the presence of allergic reactions to certain foods.

Very often in pediatrics they encounter allergies in children. In order to identify an allergic reaction to a certain product or find out about bacterial and helminthic infections, the pediatrician prescribes a general blood test. And it is by the level of eosinophils that one can determine whether there is some pathological deviation.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that is responsible for inflammatory processes in the body. Moreover, they are designed to protect the body from toxins and various harmful carriers such as allergens. Like all blood cells, eosinophils are formed in the bone marrow.

An interesting fact is that it is this type of eosinophils that can “travel,” so to speak, throughout the body, thereby neutralizing some toxin.

Normal eosinophil count in children

The higher the percentage of eosinophils, the more allergens in the body. It is worth noting that the levels in childhood and adults are different. The purpose of eosinophils is to protect the body. And exactly normal level in the blood indicates a healthy body.

Optimal content in percentage:

After 16 years of age, the indicator can already be equated to the adult indicator. With age, the amount becomes smaller. In practice, there have been cases when, after the age of six, the level of eosinophils equated to 0. And then disappeared completely. This is acceptable and is not considered a deviation.

It is worth noting that during the day, the level of eosinophils may change. This occurs due to the functioning of the adrenal glands. And it is at night that the level of eosinophils reaches its maximum. And the lowest percentage is in the morning and evening hours. For this reason, it is customary to take a blood test in the morning and on an empty stomach. This is a prerequisite for a reason, but for a correct and accurate analysis result.

Causes of elevated eosinophils

Reasons for increased eosinophils include:

Some allergen is developing in the body. And it is the increase in eosinophils that indicates this. As a rule, this is one of the most common causes in children.
Worms. There is nothing ashamed for parents if they small child worms will be found. After all, these are children, they taste everything and put every toy in their mouth. No matter how hard mom and dad try to raise their child cleanly, unfortunately, sometimes this happens.
Various skin diseases. This could be either diaper rash or lichen, which the child could have contracted from an outdoor cat.
Malignant tumors. This is already in a more severe form of the disease.
Vascular dysfunction and circulatory system disease.
Lack of such a useful substance as magnesium in the blood.

Eosinophils in the blood are elevated in a child

After the child donates blood and if the test shows an increased level of eosinophils. Then the doctor must prescribe a full examination. When the level is elevated, in pediatrics, and in medicine in general, this is called eosinophilia.

Most often, an increase in the level of eosinophils in a child infancy or a little older, indicates an allergic reaction to some product. In this case, allergic spots may be on the stomach or a rash may appear on the child's cheeks. Also, an increased percentage may mean the development of some kind of infectious disease. In addition to all this, there may be a malfunction in the functioning of immune cells.

Eosinophils in the blood are low in a child

A decrease in the level of eosinophils is called in medicine – eosinopenia. Unfortunately, a low level may also indicate some serious diseases:

Malfunction of the adrenal glands.
Development of bacterial infectious diseases.
A decrease can be observed with viral diseases, such as ARVI, influenza.
With low hemoglobin and severe anemia.
With a lack of vitamin B12.
For poisoning with mercury, arsenic. If the child inhaled these vapors.
For burns or injuries.
For operations required surgical intervention.
For problems with the thyroid gland. Especially if the child was prescribed hormonal drugs.
Stress and neuroses can also cause a decrease in the percentage of eosinophils.

Possible complications

With elevated levels of eosinophilia, a number of serious illnesses, both in infancy and in older children. Typically it may be high temperature, which is not immediately possible to shoot down. Sometimes joint pain occurs, but this occurs in older children. Maybe hemoglobin drops and anemia begins. Moreover, interruptions in heart rhythm may occur, loss of appetite and enlargement of the liver may occur.

In the case of an allergic reaction, this can also occur in infants; skin itching may occur, a rash may appear on the body, a runny nose, and the eyes will begin to water.

When the level of eosinophils is elevated for a long time, in this case the most dangerous thing that can happen is complications in the functioning of vital organs. Namely, liver, spleen, lungs, heart, brain. This reaction relates to the level of primary eosinophilia.

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

The famous pediatrician Evgeniy Olegovich is of the opinion that if the elevated level of eosinophils does not create discomfort for the child. The baby is cheerful, cheerful, energetic, eats well and sleeps soundly, then no special treatment is required.

If examination and analysis of stool do not reveal any specific pathologies, then you should not worry or worry (again, you should always pay attention to the general condition of the child). After three to four months, a general blood test can be retaken. Komarovsky claims that very often an elevated level indicates a previously appeared illness, for example a bacterial one, and when there are no traces of the disease left in the body, the level of eosinophils on its own, without any additional treatment comes back to normal.

If, upon repeated analysis, there is again an increased level of eosinophils, then it makes sense to donate blood for the content of immunoglobulin E. It is this analysis that will help the allergist determine whether the baby has a predisposition to an allergic reaction to some product. The doctor also recommends taking a stool test again.

Prevention

It’s hard to disagree that any disease is easier to prevent than to treat later, even if only for a short time. Also in this case, if the level of eosinophils has already been increased at least once, then in the future it is best to engage in prevention:

It is imperative to properly organize the child’s daily routine and nutrition.
Lead with your child healthy image life. Walk in the fresh air more often, hardening, etc.
As a rule, the pediatrician prescribes a general blood test once every 6 months, for older children - once a year. But for complete peace of mind for parents, you can take the test once every 4 months.
Explain to the child that hygiene rules must always be observed and that these rules be followed.

The health of the child is the most important thing that should require the attention of parents. And the simplest thing that can be done is to take the necessary tests in a timely manner, which will help identify pathologies if they are present in the body.

A change in the number of eosinophils in the results of the OAC indicates that there is an imbalance between the process of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, migration blood cells and their breakdown in body tissues.

Eosinophil function

Main functions of eosinophils:

detect and collect information about foreign substances entering the body,
transmit the received data to the immune system,
neutralize foreign proteins.

Therefore, it is quite acceptable to increase eosinophils in the blood of children, because as they explore the world, they encounter a large number of agents that are new to them.

It should be remembered that the concentration of these cells depends on the time of day. At night their number increases, during the day it returns to normal.

Normal indicators and what causes an increase in eosinophils in children

In newborns – 1-6
In children under two weeks of age – 1-6
From two weeks to one year – 1-5

From one to two years – 1-7
From two to five years – 1-6
From six to sixteen years old – 1-5

If the indicators are higher, then this condition is called eosinophilia. Not very good when the analysis showed decreased eosinophils in the child's blood. This may signal initial stage inflammation, stress, purulent infection or poisoning with any heavy metals or chemicals.

Role in the body

Functions of eosinophils

Locations of eosinophils: lungs, capillaries skin, gastrointestinal tract.

They fight foreign proteins by absorbing and dissolving them. Their main functions are:

antihistamine;
antitoxic;
phagocytic.

The eosinophil rate is calculated by determining the level of cells as a percentage of the number of all white cells. The acceptable level of eosinophils in the blood varies depending on the child's age:

in infants up to one month of age - no more than 6%;
up to 12 months – no more than 5%;
from one year to three years of age - no more than 7%;
from three to six years – no more than 6%;
from six to twelve years – no more than 5%.

In children over 12 years of age upper limit eosinophils should not exceed 5% of the total number of leukocytes.

What are eosinophils

Deviations from norms

The most common reasons for deviations from normal indicators eosinophils in the blood of children cause allergies and worms. Allergies arise from the hair of pets, certain foods, and plant pollen.

An increase in the level of eosinophils can be provoked by Quincke's edema, exudative diathesis, urticaria, asthma, and neurodermatitis.

Eosinophil cells exceed the norm in the blood if the child has:

rheumatism;
scarlet fever;
psoriasis;
vasculitis;
tuberculosis;
pneumonia;
hepatitis;
heart defects.

Deviations from the norm occur after severe burns, surgery to remove the spleen, and also as a result of taking antibiotics and hormonal drugs. A genetic factor also often causes high levels of leukocyte eosinophils in the blood.

Eosinophil abnormalities

Eosinophilia

An excess of eosinophils in the blood is called eosinophilia. The following types of pathology are distinguished:

Reactive eosinophilia. The cell level is increased by no more than 15%.
Moderate eosinophilia. The excess of the norm from the number of all leukocytes is no more than 20%.
High eosinophilia. The number of eosinophilic leukocytes is more than 20%.

In case of serious pathologies, the excess of the norm can be 50% or more.

Eosinophilia does not have characteristic symptoms, the clinical manifestations of the pathology depend on the disease that caused the changes in the blood. The child has elevated temperature body, heart failure, joint and muscle pain, weight loss, anemia, skin rashes.

Rash due to eosinophilia

If a child is detected in the tests large quantity eosinophilic cells, you should contact your pediatrician. He will prescribe a urine test, scraping for worm eggs, and serological tests. If necessary, the doctor will refer the baby to an allergist and dermatologist.

Allergy is also accompanied by eosinophilia

Important! If, even after treatment, eosinophils are elevated, it is recommended to undergo examination to determine the level of immunoglobulin.

So, the main task of eosinophils is to neutralize pathogenic microorganisms and destroy histamine produced during allergies. A high level of eosinophils indicates the presence in the child’s body of diseases such as dermatitis, rubella, scarlet fever, asthma, and tuberculosis.

With proper diagnosis and treatment of the disease that caused the increase in the level of cells in the blood, their indicator will soon return to normal.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that is constantly produced in the bone marrow. They mature over 3-4 days, after which they circulate in the blood for several hours and move to the tissues of the lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

A change in the number of these cells is called a shift in the leukocyte formula, and may indicate a number of disorders in the body. Let's look at what eosinophils are in blood tests, why they can be higher or lower than normal, what diseases this indicates and what it means for the body if they are elevated or lower.

The norms of such particles in the blood are determined by a general analysis and depend on the time of day, as well as the age of the patient. In the morning, evening and night, their number may increase due to changes in the functioning of the adrenal glands.

Because of physiological characteristics body level of eosinophils in the blood of children may be higher than in adults.

A shift in the leukocyte formula with a high level of eosinophils (eosinophilia) indicates that an inflammatory process is occurring in the body.

Depending on the degree of increase in a given type of cell, eosinophilia can be mild (increase in number by no more than 10%), moderate (10-15%) and severe (more than 15%).

A severe degree is considered a fairly dangerous condition for a person, since in this case lesions are often observed internal organs due to oxygen starvation of tissues.

An increase in eosinophils in the blood alone cannot indicate heart damage or vascular system, but pathologies, the symptom of which is an increase in the number of this type of leukocytes, can cause cardiovascular diseases.

The fact is that in the place of their accumulation, inflammatory changes are formed over time, destroying cells and tissues. For example, long-term, severe allergic reactions and bronchial asthma can cause eosinophilic myocarditis, a rare myocardial disease that develops due to exposure to eosinophil proteins.

A decrease in the level of eosinophils in the patient’s blood (eosinopenia) represents at least dangerous condition than their increase. It also indicates the presence of an infection, pathological process or tissue damage in the body, as a result of which protective cells rush to the source of danger and their number in the blood drops sharply.

Most common reason a decrease in eosinophils in the blood in heart disease – the onset of acute myocardial infarction. On the first day, the number of eosinophils may decrease until they completely disappear, after which, as the heart muscle regenerates, the concentration begins to increase.

Low eosinophil counts are observed in the following cases:

severe purulent infections and sepsis - in this case, the leukocyte form shifts towards the young forms of leukocytes;
in the first stages inflammatory processes and for pathologies requiring surgical intervention: pancreatitis, appendicitis, exacerbation of cholelithiasis;
severe infectious and painful shocks, as a result of which blood cells stick together into mud-like formations that settle inside the vessels;
dysfunction of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
poisoning with lead, mercury, arsenic, copper and other heavy metals;
chronic emotional stress;
advanced stage of leukemia, when the concentration of eosinophils can drop to zero.

Eosinopenia

Situations where eosinophils are low are much less common than conditions with high eosinophils. The norm of eosinophils in children itself is quite low, and a drop in these indicators down to zero may not indicate anything serious. However, any deviation from the norm in children requires additional examinations. If eosinophils are low in a child, this is due to a general decrease in the number of leukocytes in the blood. Most often it happens:

due to taking strong medications (antibiotics, anticancer drugs),
due to severe poisoning,
in comatose states,
at diabetes mellitus and uremia,
heavy infectious diseases with bright clinical manifestations(eg influenza) in initial period give the concentration of the blood cells in question below normal,
injuries, extensive burns,
in premature infants whose condition is accompanied by sepsis,
sometimes with Down syndrome.

It has been noted that with increased work of the adrenal glands and a number of other reasons that increase the level of corticosteroid hormones, the maturation of eosinophils is blocked and they cannot leave the bone marrow into the bloodstream.

Specific treatment aimed at normalizing reduced level There are, of course, no eosinophils in the blood. With successful treatment of the underlying disease, the child’s eosinophil values themselves level out to normal levels.

Causes of eosinophilia

Among the many blood cells, there is a population of white blood cells called eosinophils, which are markers that determine:

The cells got their name due to their ability to perfectly absorb the dye eosin, used in laboratory diagnostics.

Under a microscope, the cells look like small amoebas with a double nucleus, which are able to move beyond the vascular wall, penetrate the tissue and accumulate in inflammatory foci or areas of tissue damage. Eosinophils float in the blood for about an hour, after which they are transported to the tissues.

For adults, the normal content of eosinophils in a clinical blood test is considered to be from 1 to 5% of the total number of leukocytes. Eosinophils are determined by flow cytometry using a semiconductor laser, and the norm in women is the same as in men. More rare units of measurement are the number of cells in 1 ml of blood. Eosinophils should be from 120 to 350 per milliliter of blood.

The number of these cells can fluctuate during the day due to changes in the functioning of the adrenal glands.

In the morning and evening hours, there are 15% more eosinophils compared to normal
In the first half of the night 30% more.

For a more reliable analysis result, you should:

Take a blood test in the early morning hours on an empty stomach.
For two days you should abstain from alcohol and overuse sweets.
Eosinophils may also increase during menstruation in women. From the moment of ovulation until the end of the cycle, their number decreases. The eosinophilic test of ovarian function and determination of the day of ovulation is based on this phenomenon. Estrogens increase the maturation of eosinophils, while progesterone decreases it.

As the child grows, the number of eosinophils in his blood fluctuates slightly, as can be seen from the table.

A significant increase in the number of eosinophils is considered to be a condition when there are more than 700 cells per milliliter (7 to 10 to 9 grams per liter). Increased content eosinophils is called eosinophilia.

Growth up to 10% - mild degree
From 10 to 15% - moderate
Over 15% (more than 1500 cells per milliliter) – pronounced or severe eosinophilia. In this case, changes in internal organs may be observed due to cellular and tissue oxygen starvation.

Sometimes errors occur when counting cells. Eosin stains not only eosinophilic granulocytes, but also granularity in neutrophils, then neutrophils are reduced and eosinophils are increased without good reason. In this case, a control blood test will be required.

At allergic rhinitis swabs are taken from the nose and throat for eosinophils.
If bronchial asthma is suspected, spirometry and provocative tests (cold, with Berotec) are performed.
The allergist then carries out specific diagnostics (determination of allergens using standard serums), clarifies the diagnosis and prescribes treatment (antihistamines, hormonal drugs, serums).

If the absolute number of eosinophils per milliliter of blood falls below 200, the condition is interpreted as eosinopenia.

Eosinophil counts become low in the following cases:

In severe purulent infections, including sepsis, when the population of leukocytes shifts towards young forms (band and segmented), and then the leukocyte response is depleted.
At the beginning of inflammatory processes, with surgical pathologies (appendicitis, pancreatitis, exacerbation of cholelithiasis).
On the first day of myocardial infarction.
In case of infectious, painful shock, when the formed elements of the blood stick together into mud-like formations inside the vessels.
For poisoning with heavy metals (lead, copper, mercury, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, thallium).
For chronic stress.
Against the background of pathologies of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands.
In the advanced stage of leukemia, eosinophils drop to zero.

Lymphocytes and eosinophils are elevated when viral infections in allergy sufferers, in patients with allergic dermatoses or helminthiasis. The same picture will be in the blood of those who are treated with antibiotics or sulfonamides. In children, these cells increase in scarlet fever and the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus. For differential diagnosis It is additionally recommended to donate blood for the level of immunoglobulins E, for antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus and feces for worm eggs.
Monocytes and eosinophils increase during infectious processes. The most typical case in children and adults is mononucleosis. A similar picture may occur with viral and fungal diseases, rickettsiosis, syphilis, tuberculosis, and sarcoidosis.

The leukocyte composition of the blood contains cells responsible for the body’s reaction to the penetration of foreign microorganisms or harmful substances into it. Therefore, if a child has elevated eosinophils, the doctor must identify the cause that caused this deviation.

Role in the body

Eosinophils are a type of granulocyte produced by the bone marrow to fight toxins, foreign microorganisms, or their breakdown products.

The cells got their name from their ability to absorb the dye eosin, which determines color. of this type blood corpuscle. These cells do not stain when laboratory research basic dyes, like basophils.

From the bone marrow they are carried through the blood capillaries to the tissues of the body, mainly accumulating in the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract.

A blood test allows you to determine the absolute or relative number of a given type of leukocyte.

The norm of eosinophils in children in absolute terms should be:

babies from birth to one year 0.05-0.4 Gg/l (Giga grams/liter),
children from one to 6 years old 0.02-0.3 Gg/l,
children over 6 years old and adults 0.02-0.5 Gg/l.

However, most often laboratory analysis shows the number of eosinophils in the child’s blood in relation to other leukocytes, that is, a relative value.

Its norm in children different ages must be within the following limits:

children up to 2 weeks 1-6%,
children under 1 year 1-5%,
1-2 years 1-7%,
from 2 to 5 years 1-6%,
5-15 years 1-4%,
over 15 years 0.5-5%.

The eosinophilic composition of blood is strongly influenced by the time of blood sampling for testing and proper preparation for the analysis. An increase in eosinophils in the blood is observed at night, when the adrenal glands intensively produce hormones.

Therefore, generally accepted standards take into account the leukocyte composition of the blood for the average person who donated blood in the morning.

The level of eosinophils in the blood is also affected by the menstrual cycle in women. An increase in the amount of progesterone, which peaks at the time of ovulation, reduces the number of these cells. This property of the body made it possible to create a test to determine the day of ovulation, which is very important for women planning a pregnancy.

Deviations from norms

Unfortunately, the analysis does not always show a normal level various types leukocytes in the blood. What reasons can cause a deviation in the number of eosinophils from the norm, and what will the transcript tell the doctor about?

In rare cases, a decrease or even complete absence of eosinophils in the blood may be observed. This condition is called eosinopenia, it can be caused by a congenital characteristic of the body or a weakened immune system.

Sometimes eosinophils are absent in children with viral or bacterial diseases. Eosinophils are often low in a child who has suffered psycho-emotional stress or excessive physical exertion. These cells may be completely absent from the leukocytogram after injuries, burns or surgery.

Eosinophilia

In practice, much more common is a condition in which eosinophils are elevated, which has received the medical name eosinophilia.

The causes of eosinophilia in children are divided into the following groups:

There are 3 degrees:

mild (eosinophils are increased in a child by no more than 10% of the total number of leukocytes),
moderate (in a child, eosinophils make up 10% - 20% of leukocytes),
severe (the child has increased eosinophils by more than 20% of the total number of leukocytes).

A mild degree is not dangerous. It's more likely borderline state between normality and pathology, which may simply be a reaction to short-term contact with an aggressive substance or be a concomitant diagnostic sign chronic allergies.

A moderate degree creates the prerequisites for a more in-depth examination. In addition to determining the percentage of blood cells, it is necessary to determine the level of a specific peptide (cationic protein) and conduct an immunogram. This condition already requires correction.

Severe degree is a pronounced pathological process that is a direct threat to the life of the child. This condition is always a symptom of a severe disorder of the immune, hematopoietic or endocrine systems.

Symptoms of the disease

In infants and children early age external manifestations are quite pronounced:

there is redness of the skin,
the skin is rough to the touch, increased density,
peeling, hair loss are observed on the scalp,
when assessing muscle tone, hypertonicity is often detected and contractions of the muscles of the limbs, similar to convulsive ones, may appear,
a wheezing cough is possible when breathing,
due to swelling of the nasal mucosa, impaired nasal breathing.
general manifestations are expressed in sleep disturbances and decreased appetite in infants.
on initial stages the baby is capricious; later, on the contrary, it becomes apathetic.

At an older age, when verbal contact is possible, both children and adults describe the symptoms of general malaise more colorfully:

headache,
heart rhythm disturbance,
dyspnea,
gastrointestinal disorders,
skin sensitivity disorders,
the appearance of yellowish spots on the face and limbs,
swelling of the face and limbs,
neurological disorders intensify.

Since there are many reasons for an increase in eosinophils in a child’s blood, the symptoms may be different.

Changes in appetite occur;
Feeling lethargic and lack of strength;
Itchy irritation of the anus occurs;

Weight decreases;
Muscle pain appears;
Allergic reactions appear on the skin.

Skin rash accompanied by itching;
Runny nose, sneezing, swelling;

Dry cough, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks;
Itching, redness of the eyes, watery eyes.

Other diseases in which an increase in the number of this type of leukocytes is possible are more typical for adults. However, any changes in the child’s condition, along with a deviation from the norm as a result of the study, and especially when eosinophils are elevated in an infant, require additional attention from specialists.

Concern for the child pushes parents to seek additional examinations. To get a more accurate result, you should follow some rules for taking a clinical blood test:

Since an increase in leukocytes follows after eating, it is best to donate blood on an empty stomach;
Theoretically, the indicators also depend on the time of day at which the analysis was done, so it is preferable to do it in the morning;
If the OAC is taken several times during the course of an illness, then it would be correct to observe the same conditions (for example, always in the morning and before meals) so that the indicators are affected by as few factors as possible;
If the child is healthy and eosinophilia persists for a long time, it is worth taking a test for the level of total immunoglobulin E to determine the tendency to allergic reactions.

Dr. Komarovsky says the following about the increase in eosinophils in a child: “it can be present after illnesses, usually bacterial, at the stage of recovery. But if the child’s general condition is normal, then the increase in the number of eosinophils in itself should not cause concern in parents.

If the child is healthy, then it is best to monitor his condition and be examined (do an OAC) after about 3-4 months.

Treatment for eosinophilia

If the levels of eosinophils in a child's blood increase, treatment is primarily directed to the disease causing this symptom. The range of medications prescribed to the patient will depend on the type of underlying disease, its severity and stage, as well as the patient’s age. First-line drugs will be steroid hormones, antihistamines, immunosuppressants and metabolic agents.

Indicators of the number of eosinophils for specialists are the most important diagnostic criterion for determining functional state body.