Eosinophilia & meningitis in tropics Flashcards
What is an abnormal eosinophil count?
> 5-10%
450-500mm3
What causes raised eosinophils?
Helminths plus
Aspergillus
Cocci
Scabies, myiasis
Cystoiospora (plus sarcocystis)
Congenital toxo
HIV - allergies, eosinophilic folliculitis
Drug reactions
Asthma
Dermatitis
IBD
Malignancy
Hypereosinophilic syndrome
Psoriasis
Vasculitis
What are the common causes of eosinophilia caused by helminth?
Acute schistosomiasis
Strongyloides
Filarias (Loa, Oncho, Mansonella, lymphatic)
Hookworms (including CLM)
Acute ascariasis
Trichinosis
Larva migrans syndromes (Toxocara, Baylisascaris, Angiostrongylus, Anisakis,
Gnathostomiasis, Fascioliasis, other flukes)
When to suspect a helminth based eosinophil count?
> 1500 absolute count - likely to be a worm
Acute katayama fever causing raised eosinophils. ∆ made how?
Serology (can be -ve)
Most will have negative stool
Why does katayama fever occur in schistosomiasis? Most common symptom?
Egg laying begins
Not detectable in stool or urine
Fever, cough
Fever, respiratory symptoms and swimming in Africa with eosinophils. ∆ to exclude?
Schisto (all other helminths mostly present GI symptoms)
Rash, GI and respiratory symptoms in immigrant from Asia, most likely ∆?
Strongyloides
Most patients are asymptomatic
Patient from Amazonia area, presenting with gram -ve meningitis and bacteraemia, always rule out what?
Strongyloides
Army soldier presenting with eosinophilia but no rash. ∆?
Hookworm - no rash human hookworm
Migratory swellings with eosinophilia from DRC? Confirmatory tests?
Loa Loa (migratory - calibar swellings)
Blood smear for microfilaria
5 yr old girl been playing with dogs in Thailand, presents with fever, abdo pain and diarrhoea with a rash and eosinophilia. Always think of?
Toxocara canis - visceral larva migraña
Larva migrans syndromes - causes?
Toxocara
Baylisascaris
Angiostrongylus
Gnathostomiasis
Acute Ascaris
Paragonimus
Acute Fascioliasis
TBAG - zoonotic helminths causing LM
Migratory nodules with eosinophilia?
Gnatho
Paragon
Fasciola
Sparagonis
ALL MOVE
Fixed nodules - cystercircosis and onchocercosis
pulmonary infiltrates and eosinophils?
1) Fleeting infiltrates (Loeffler’s):
Larva migrans (Schisto, Strongyloides,
Toxocara, Ascaris, Hookworm)
NASA for nematodes + schisto and toxocara
2) Localized infiltrates: Paragonimus,
Echinococcus
3) Diffuse infiltrates: Tropical Pulmonary
Eosinophilia due to Filariasis
Eosinophilia in tropics crucial part of hx re: symptoms?
GI symptoms
Resp symptoms
Skin symptoms
Neurological symptoms in returning traveller with eosinophilia. Which organisms are you worried about?
Acute schistosomiasis, Angiostrongylus, gnatho, neurocysticercosis