Normal level of eosinophils in children 3 years. The main reasons for the increase in eosinophils in a child

The materials are published for review and are not a prescription for treatment! We recommend that you contact a hematologist at your healthcare facility!

An increase in eosinophils or eosinophilia in children usually indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. It can be associated with various reasons, but in any case, it requires attention.

Parents monitor the health of their child, and therefore they can be seriously concerned about what the child has. This phenomenon should be considered in more detail in order to understand its essence and causes.

Functions of eosinophils

Eosinophils are part of the leukocyte picture of the body. These cells are responsible for the functioning of the immune system, and therefore fluctuations in their concentration may indicate problems.

The functions of these cells are:

  • phagocytic;
  • antitoxic;
  • antihistamine action and protection of the body from allergens.

Important: high rates in babies are often associated with increased vulnerability of the body and undeveloped immunity.

Content Metrics

If eosinophils in infants are elevated, it is important to know the maximum permissible limits of deviations and their possible causes.

Normal parameters

Each person has a certain amount of eosinophils in their blood. The norm in children is slightly higher than in adults.

For infants, the maximum concentration is characteristic, up to 7-8%. As they grow older, this percentage levels off and is fixed at the level of 1-5%. Why these indicators are increased in a child is explained by the fact that the child's body needs to develop immunity and constantly fight new infections and microorganisms. In addition, there is an addiction to new foods. When the need for these cells decreases, their level will return to the baseline.

Deviations and their causes

Eosinophils can be lowered and increased with impaired immune defenses and the development of inflammation. An increase in this indicator is called eosinophilia.

Eosinophilia - elevated levels of eosinophils

If the deviations are moderate and do not exceed 15%, they speak of reactive eosinophilia, which does not pose a particular threat. Large numbers require medical intervention.

Treatment

If the analysis showed a deviation from the norm, to clarify the situation, it is necessary to observe the condition of the child. You may need such studies as an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, a smear for the eggs of worms, a biochemical blood test.

If eosinophils are elevated in the blood of a child up to 15%, it is enough to prescribe a treatment for the current disease that provoked this phenomenon, as well as to carry out general measures to strengthen immunity.

Eosinophilia is an increase in a certain type of white blood cells (eosinophils) in the circulating blood. It arises in the form of a protective reaction of the body to the appearance in the internal environment of agents with certain characteristics. Eosinophilia can be caused by chemicals, microorganisms and their fragments. The most frequent increase in the pool of eosinophils occurs in children. Eosinophilia is not an independent disease. It reflects a violation of the constant indicators of the internal environment of the body, its constancy (homeostasis). The exception is hemoblastoses.

What are eosinophils?

Leukocytes, the nucleus of which has 2 lobes, are well perceived by the dye of the acidic pH spectrum (eosin). This determined the name of this type of granulocytes. The red bone marrow is the site of eosinophil formation. They are part of the body's immune system. At maturation, the cells go through stages from a common myeloid progenitor to a segmented eosinophil. They have the following abilities:

Normal values ​​may vary from laboratory to laboratory. They are determined by reagents, equipment and units of measurement in a particular medical institution. Most laboratories measure the eosinophil count as a percentage of the sum of all white blood cells. Thus, not the total number of cells is estimated, but their proportion among other leukocytes. It must be understood that this means that only a relative indicator will be evaluated in the study. When using this technique, normal values ​​​​can be:

  • for children 1 - 14 days from 1 to 6 - 8%;
  • from 15 to 365 days - from 1 to 5%;
  • from 1 to 2 years 1 - 7%;
  • from 2 to 5 years 1 - 6%;
  • from 5 to 15 years 1 - 4%;
  • older than 15 years from 0.5 to 5%.

When using the calculation of the absolute number of eosinophils in the blood, the unit of measurement is 10 ^ 9 / l. In this case, the following indicators will be normal:

  • in an infant (from the first day of life to a year) - 0.05 - 0.4;
  • from a year to 6 years, this value will be from 0.02 to 0.3;
  • in children older than 6 years and adults, the normal level of eosinophils is in the range from 0.02 to 0.5.

When are eosinophils in the blood elevated?

Elevated eosinophils can be detected in the blood by conducting a study. The causes of eosinophilia are varied. Exceeding the norm of eosinophils can be detected in the presence of the following pathological conditions:

Allergic reactions and helminthic infestations are the cause of more than 70% of cases of eosinophilia in children. In other cases, the diagnosis of the conditions that led to the increase in the level of eosinophils will be carried out between:

  • collagenoses. If the patient has systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, periarteritis nodosa, etc. an increase in eosinophils occurs in response to the production of pathological substances by one's own body.
  • tumor processes. The cause of eosinophilia may be the presence of hemoblastoses (erythremia, leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis, etc.) and other (solid) tumors that have a significant prevalence. Provoking factors are metastasis and necrotic tissue destruction (decay).
  • immunodeficiency states. Such eosinophilia will be observed in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
  • Tropical eosinophilia. In this condition, the infectious agent provokes an increase in the number of eosinophils against the background of special climatic conditions (increased levels of humidity and air temperature).
  • Staphylococcal infection. The reaction of eosinophils in this case is not specific.
  • Insufficient intake of magnesium in the child's body.
  • Decreased thyroid function.
  • Tuberculosis.
  • Conducting antibiotic therapy.
  • Exudative processes of various origins.
  • An increase in the tone of the vagus nerve, including with vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Treatment of eosinophilia

Since in most cases eosinophilia is a reaction of the body to the presence of diseases (except for hemoblastoses), it is necessary to treat them in order to correct the level of leukocytes. After the disease returns to a state of remission or is cured, the indicators of the granulocytic link normalize 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 eosinophilic cells into tissues. This is especially often observed in the presence of an exudative process.

What should be done if a child has eosinophilia?

The care of parents about the health of the child should be in the area of ​​attention of the pediatrician. This principle is especially important in the first year of life. At this time, the child is exposed daily to a significant amount of foreign agents, which can lead to widespread allergic reactions. If eosinophilia is found in the results of a blood test, it is necessary:

  • inform the local pediatrician about this;
  • carry out the appointments made by the doctor;
  • nursing mother adhere to the recommended diet;
  • perform additional diagnostic manipulations (if necessary).

The situation in which eosinophils are elevated in a child's blood is called eosinophilia. It is usually observed in allergic processes caused by various agents - caught with inhaled air, food, or in response to the presence of helminths and microbes in the body. To establish the most accurate cause, a detailed diagnosis is carried out.

Eosinophils are an indicator of an increased allergic mood in a child's body.

Eosinophils in the child's body perform a number of important functions, which include:

Basophils are the main culprits in the clinical manifestations of allergies. Such severe forms as Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock are associated with them.

The formation of eosinophils occurs in the bone marrow. Stimulators of this process are interleukins - substances that accompany the inflammatory reaction. The lifespan of eosinophils in tissues ranges from 2 to 5 days, depending on the state of the body (whether this moment eosinophilic protection or not).

In acute inflammation, eosinophils, having performed their functions, die within a few hours, experiencing oxidative stress.

Norms in children

The rate of eosinophils in the blood of a child is subject to age-related fluctuations. Approximate guidelines are considered to be the following (in percentage terms):

  • newborn baby - 2%
  • on the 5th day after birth, there is a slight increase in eosinophils - up to 3%
  • by the first month they decrease - up to 2.5%
  • at 4 years, the decrease becomes even more noticeable - their relative content is 1%
  • from 14 years old - 2%.

The absolute norm of eosinophils in older children corresponds to that of adults. Its reference values ​​are 0.02-0.3 ∙ 10⁹/l. An increased content (more than 0.3 ∙ 10⁹/l) is regarded as eosinophilia.

Absolute and relative eosinophilia are concepts that do not always coincide.

7 causes of eosinophilia

The main reasons when a child has elevated eosinophils in the blood can be divided into several groups, each of which has its own causative diseases:

These 7 reasons include a huge list of diseases, the diagnosis of which will allow for effective treatment. The most common allergic pathologies leading to increased eosinophils in the blood of a child are:

  • bronchial asthma(spasm of the bronchial tree, but the alveoli are not involved in this pathological process)
  • allergic alveolitis(isolated lesion of the alveoli - the smallest lung structures that perform the function of gas exchange)
  • urticaria (appearance of a rash on the skin, accompanied by itching)
  • Quincke's edema, the danger of which is suffocation against the background of laryngeal edema
  • polynosis - hypersensitivity to pollen.

Some dermatological diseases are also accompanied by eosinophilia:

  • eczema
  • psoriasis.

It is believed that it is eosinophils that provoke a cascade of pathological changes that develop in the dermis (skin). In case of systemic damage to the connective tissue, a similar mechanism of damage is assumed. Quite often, eosinophilia is detected in rheumatism, lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis (combined lesions of the skin and muscles).

High eosinophils can also indicate tumors of the blood system. Therefore, when this symptom is detected in a child, it is required to exclude lymphogranulomatosis (an increase in the clone of lymphocytes and damage to the lymph nodes, primarily the neck and supraclavicular region) and myeloid leukemia with a chronic course. The pathology of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland is also reflected in the level of eosinophils. Of infectious diseases, this indicator of a general clinical blood test is influenced by syphilis and scarlet fever.

It should be noted that against the background of prolonged eosinophilia, a condition may develop in which the child's eosinophils are lowered. This will be due to the depletion of compensatory reactions.

Diagnosis and principles of treatment

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

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

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

Very often, when conducting a detailed clinical study of blood, a change in the number of leukocytes draws attention to itself. Considering the leukogram in more detail, an experienced specialist may suspect a particular pathology. And what do the increased eosinophils in a child in the blood testify to - such a question is often asked by parents at a pediatrician's appointment. To understand this, it is necessary to consider in more detail the morphological and functional features of these cells.

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF EOSINOPHILES

Eosinophils are a subspecies of leukocytes. They got their name because of the peculiarities of coloring. These cells are only able to absorb eosin, an intensely pink chemical. Unlike other types of leukocytes, eosinophils do not stain with basic dyes.

Eosinophils spend most of their life cycle outside the vascular bed. They leave him and go to the damaged tissues. An increase in eosinophils in a child indicates that the existing cells are not able to restrain the activity of the pathological process.

REASONS FOR INCREASING

The causes of an increase in eosinophils in a child are most often allergic reactions, which can manifest themselves in the form of:

  • broncho-obstructive syndrome;
  • seasonal diseases;
  • hypersensitivity to certain medications;
  • dermatological pathology.

The detection of eosinophils above the norm is inherent in oncological diseases. The level of cells can change significantly at advanced stages of the tumor, especially when the pathology affects the regional lymphatic system and is accompanied by necrotic processes.

Relative eosinophilia is a symptom of immunodeficiency states, connective tissue systemic diseases, especially in adulthood.

NORM

The indicators of the leukocyte formula depend on the age of the child and are calculated in relative terms. The rate of eosinophils in infants is much higher than in older children, and can reach 7-8% of all leukocytes. Over time, the number of these cells decreases. If eosinophils 6 for a child of 4 years old is considered a physiological indicator, then for older adults the norm is 1-2 percent of the total number of white blood cells. If eosinophils are elevated in a child, then you should already consult a doctor.

It is worth remembering that hormonal factors affect the results of a clinical blood test. Night activity of the adrenal cortex leads to an increase in the number of eosinophils by a third, which must be taken into account when conducting studies at this time of day.

CLINICAL PICTURE

With eosinophilia in a patient, signs of an allergic pathology are most often observed, which can occur against the background of complete health:

  • hyperemia and edema of the conjunctiva;
  • tearing and mucous discharge from the nose;
  • violation of nasal breathing;
  • bronchial obstruction;
  • skin rashes.

In a newborn with elevated eosinophils, pathological reflexes, general weakness, and anxiety may appear. Often such a child suckles sluggishly at the mother's breast, which leads to a deterioration in weight gain.

The severity of eosinophilia is directly proportional to the activity of the pathological process in the body.

RULES FOR DELIVERY OF THE ANALYSIS

The specialists of both public and private laboratories are able to perform the calculation of the leukocyte formula. In order for the results of the analysis to be reliable, it is necessary to follow the general recommendations:

  • the interval between blood sampling and the last meal should be at least 12 hours;
  • do not take medications;
  • exclude physical activity;
  • do not donate blood after X-ray diagnostic methods, physiotherapy procedures.

WHAT TO DO WITH EOSINOPHILIA

If a child has elevated eosinophils, then, first of all, it is necessary to identify the reasons. To do this, the specialist needs to carefully collect an anamnesis of life and disease, conduct a physical examination, determine the volume of laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods. With symptoms of an allergic reaction, it is important to eliminate contact with the allergen, if a helminthic invasion is suspected - perform appropriate fecal examinations.

Remember that eosinophilia is not a disease but a symptom. This means that a child may have tissue damage of varying severity, and only the vigilance of parents and the professionalism of a pediatrician can identify the pathological process at an early stage, which will facilitate therapy and improve the prognosis for a small patient.

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Eosinophils in a child, like in an adult, are formed in the bone marrow. The process takes about 3 days, after which the cells enter the bloodstream and remain there for 8-12 hours. The development of various pathologies changes this time period up or down.

By the level of eosinophils, you can assess the well-being of the child against the background of the ongoing disease or before vaccination. The indicator will tell you about the state of immunity and hidden invasions that cannot be determined in another way.

Eosinophils are a special subspecies of leukocytes - white blood cells. A characteristic feature of cells is considered to be the presence of granules in the cytoplasm and the ability to stain with acidic dyes. Segmented cells are involved in the formation of antibodies (lg E) and the creation of immune defense mechanisms during the period of the disease.

Upon contact with foreign microorganisms, eosinophils decompose and secrete rather aggressive substances that destroy the structure of the pathogen, and then absorb and digest the destroyed cells. In addition, granulocytes regulate the intensity of inflammatory processes and are involved in the restoration of tissues that have been attacked by “outsiders”.

The growth of segmented cells is characteristic of weakened, often ill children with poor immunity, observed in liver pathologies and disorders of the endocrine system.

Norms

The concentration of eosinophils in newborn babies is always slightly higher than in adults. With age, this figure decreases, and after 6 years it can approach zero.

The change in the norm of eosinophils in children is shown in the table:

The number of eosinophils can fluctuate throughout the day - at night, the concentration of cells is highest. The lowest content of granulocytes is observed in the morning and evening: almost a quarter less than the average daily rate. Such a run-up in values ​​is explained by the peculiarities of the work of the adrenal glands.

To make the result of a leukocyte analysis more reliable, donate blood should be in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Eosinophilia

They say about eosinophilia when the level of granulocytes in the blood of a child exceeds 320 cells in 0.001 ml or 4%. This is a rather serious deviation from the norm, in which damage to organs and tissues can develop.

Classification

In children, eosinophilia can occur in different forms:

  • reactive;
  • primary;
  • family.

The first type is the most common and is manifested by a moderate (5–15%) increase in granulocytes. In newborns, it can be a reaction to medications or a consequence of intrauterine infections. In an older child, reactive eosinophilia develops as a symptom of the disease.

The primary type in children is rare and is accompanied by damage to the internal organs. Hereditary excess of eosinophils occurs at a very early age and quickly becomes chronic.

In some serious pathologies, the concentration of granulocytic cells can be 35-50%

The reasons

Elevated eosinophils in the blood of a child are a companion of many diseases. The cause of the violation is most often allergic conditions and helminthic invasions. In these cases, the baby, as a rule, has reactive eosinophilia.

In infants, eosinophils can be elevated in the following diseases:

  • staphylococcal infection;
  • incompatibility with the mother according to the Rh factor;
  • pemphigus;
  • eosinophilic colitis;
  • hemolytic disease of the newborn.

If eosinophils are elevated in an older child, this may indicate other pathologies:

  • bronchial asthma;
  • allergic type rhinitis;
  • gonococcal infection;
  • lack of magnesium.

In a separate group, eosinophilia caused by a hereditary factor is distinguished. In addition, an increased content of eosinophils may be present in the blood of a child who has recently undergone a serious illness or operation. After such conditions, granulocytic cells remain active for a long time.

An eosinophilic cationic protein test will help determine what exactly caused the violation. If the indicator is elevated, the baby is more likely to suffer from allergies. A parallel increase in monocytes indicates the development of helminthic invasions.

Associated symptoms

Since eosinophilia is not an independent disease, but a symptom, its manifestations repeat the clinical picture of the underlying pathological process. The child may have a fever, joint pain, anemia, interruptions in heart rate, loss of appetite, enlargement of the liver.

With an allergic syndrome, a small patient will suffer from itching and skin irritation, runny nose, and watery eyes. If the growth of granulocytic cells is caused by worms, the child's body weight decreases, weakness and nausea begin to torment him, and sleep is disturbed.

In children, a predisposition to the development of "large" eosinophilia is more pronounced than in adults (35–50% with significant leukocytosis). This group includes several forms of malaise with unknown etiology, united by the term "infectious eosinophilia".

Such a significant deviation from the norm is manifested by an acute onset, fever, inflammation of the nasopharynx, dyspepsia, multiple pains in the joints, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen.

Descriptions of tropical eosinophilia are known, which are characterized by asthmatic dyspnea, persistent dry cough, fever, infiltrates in the lungs, and the level of granulocytes up to 80%. Most medical professionals recognize the invasive nature of this condition.

Why is it dangerous

What can lead to a prolonged increase in eosinophils in the blood of a child? The most dangerous form of malaise in terms of consequences and complications is primary eosinophilia. It is often accompanied by damage to vital organs: the liver, lungs, heart, brain. Excessive impregnation of tissues with granulocytic cells leads to their compaction and disruption of functionality.

Treatment

Pediatricians believe that reactive forms of the pathological condition do not require specific therapy. Soon after the root cause is eliminated, the level of granulocytic cells returns to normal on its own. Dr. Komarovsky is of the same opinion. He believes that if elevated eosinophils do not violate the general well-being of the child, nothing needs to be done.

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