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

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.

• General ill feeling
• Fever
• Dry cough
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Rapid respiratory rate
• Rash

The health care provider will listen to your chest with a stethoscope. Crackle-like sounds called rales may be heard. Rales suggest inflammation of the lung tissue.

A blood count test shows increased white blood cells, particularly eosinophils.

Chest x-ray usually shows abnormal shadows called infiltrates. They may disappear with time or reappear in different areas of the lung.

A bronchoscopy with washing may show a large number of eosinophils.

Gastric lavage may show signs of the ascaris worm.

If you are allergic to a drug, the doctor may have you stop taking it. (But, never stop a medication without consulting with your doctor first.)

If the condition is due to an infection, you may be treated with an antibiotic or anti-parasitic medication.

Sometime, corticosteroids (powerful anti-inflammatory medicines) may be needed.

A rare complication of simple pulmonary eosinophilia is a severe type of pneumonia called acute idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonia.

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.