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Simple pulmonary eosinophilia

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• Symptoms
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Definition:

Simple pulmonary eosinophilia is inflammation of the lungs associated with an increase in eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.

Alternative Names:

Pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia; Loeffler syndrome

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most cases of simple pulmonary eosinophilia are due to an allergic reaction, either from a drug, such as sulfonamide, or infection from a fungus or parasite, including Ascaris lumbricoides .

References:

Mason RJ, Murray J, VC Broaddus, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005:1679-1695.

Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 4th ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2001:600,895.

• Review Date: 2/16/2007
• Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veteran Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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