Answer 77 - Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia.
Typical features of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia include:
True a. lymphadenopathy
True b. absolute eosinophilia
False c. microfilaraemia
True d. raised serum Ig E
False e. rapid response to mebendazole
This syndrome is also sometimes called filarial hypereosinophilia. It is characterised by hypersensitivity to microfilaria. Characteristic features of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia include:
Hypereosinophilia
Pulmonary symptoms
Current or previous residence in an area endemic for filariasis
Absence of microfilariae in the blood
Lymphadenopathy
High titres of anti-filarial antibodies
There is a rapid response to diethylcarbamazine (DEC).
Transient pulmonary infiltrates and eosinophilia may be associated with Ascaris, hookworm and Strongyloides infections. These infections are important in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilia but do not cause tropical pulmonary eosinophilia.
