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Simple pulmonary eosinophilia (Loeffler's syndrome)

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Simple pulmonary eosinophilia (Loeffler's syndrome)

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; Eosinophilic pneumonia; Loeffler's syndrome

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most cases of simple pulmonary eosinophilia are due to an allergic reaction of some sort, either from a drug, such as sulfonamide, or parasitic infection, such as that caused by the worm Ascaris lumbricoides. Other parasites may also cause the syndrome.

References:

Murray JF, Nadel JA. Eosinophilic Lung Diseases. In: Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. W. B. Saunders Company, 2000; 1761-1771.

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