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Simple pulmonary eosinophilia (Loeffler's syndrome)

Alternative Names: Pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia; Eosinophilic pneumonia; Loeffler's syndrome Symptoms: General ill feeling (malaise) Fever Dry cough Chest pain Shortness of breath Wheezing Rapid respiratory rate Rash Note: Symptoms range from none at all to severe. They will usually go away without treatment. Signs and tests: Listening to the chest with a stethoscope may reveal rales(crackle-like sounds that suggest inflammation of the lung tissue). A bronchoscopy with washing may show a large number of eosinophils. Sputum, bronchoscopically obtained washing, and gastric lavage may reveal larvae of the ascaris worm. A CBC or WBC count shows increased white blood cells, particularly eosinophils. Chest X-ray usually reveals abnormal shadows (infiltrates) that disappear with time, or may reappear in different areas of the lung. References: Text Continues Below 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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