eosinophils
14 Sep 2002UPDATE: I am not a doctor. This is not a doctor’s website. I apologize if the tone of this entry is misleading. If you have arrived here because you are searching for things like “high eosinophil count” because you have one, and you are wondering what it means, you have come to the wrong place. You may want to re-consider the fact that your doctor or medical institution delivered you a medical statistic about your body without telling you what it means.
I suggest that you contact them immediately, and yell at them. Then find another doctor who will tell you what this means. If you don’t have a doctor, see a general practitioner, who can recommend you to an immunology specialist.
Asking for medical advice from blogs on the internet is not a good idea.
Today’s lesson:
Eosinophilia
The condition of having an absolute (compared to a relative) increase in the number of eosinophils in the circulating blood. The absolute number is obtained by multiplying the percentage of eosinophils times the white blood cell count.
This might be what is causing my urticaria, and my sinus infections. Now, to continue the lesson:
Eosinophil:
These cells are easily distinguished by their relatively large granules that take up red dye in routine stains. Eosinophils are particularly prevalent in allergic reactions and parasitic infections, where their numbers can be increased in both the circulation and at the site of inflammation. The granules of eosinophils, which are characterized by electron-dense bar-like bodies ultrastructurally, contain unique basic proteins that are toxic to certain parasites. They also contain peroxidase, acid phosphatase, and cationic major basic protein. Eosinophils respond chemotactically to a cytokine produced by stimulated mast cells (eosinophil chemotactic factor).²
Stay tuned for next month’s installment! Stay in school!
² Eosinophil**