Asymptomatic peripheral blood eosinophilia redux: common parasitic infections presenting frequently in refugees and immigrants. Diseases Society of America

摘要

Although the causes of peripheral blood eosinophilia are myriad, eosinophilia in refugees or immigrants from many parts of the world is most often a reflection of parasitic helminth (worm) infection. Soil-transmitted helminth infection affects more than 1.5 billion persons worldwide. If schistosome and filarial infections are added into the equation-even accounting for polyparasitism-this number reaches >2 billion persons. Thus, it stands to reason that many refugees and immigrants from areas where parasitic helminth infections are endemic present to clinicians with eosinophilia.