--- title: "Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia. | Sutter Health" description: "This review focuses on common and some uncommon causes of pulmonary parasitic eosinophilia and their manifestations, diagnosis, and management." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/parasitic-pulmonary-eosinophilia-1055312949" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia. # Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia. Chitkara RK & Krishna G. _Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 27(2):171-84._ 2006-04-01 ## Abstract Parasitic infections, although common in tropical and subtropical regions, are prevalent worldwide because of changing immigration patterns and in international travel. The burden of worm infection is enormous and the intensity of infection is usually high among the poor and in immunocompromised individuals. Pulmonary eosinophilia occurs in almost all metazoan infections. In the Western world, the most common infections are caused by Strongyloides, Ascaris, Toxocara, and Ancylostoma species. Most of the nematodes multiply within the human host and cause pulmonary eosinophilia during larval migration through the lungs. Despite larval migration through the lungs, there is usually no permanent lung damage. The result is an increased number of eosinophils in the airways or lung parenchyma with or without peripheral eosinophilia. Löffler's syndrome, visceral larva migrans, and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia are the most common infections that cause pulmonary eosinophilia. The most serious parasitic eosinophilic lung disease is tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, a disorder caused by the filarial worms Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, in which cases have typically been reported to masquerade acute or refractory bronchial asthma. Increasing awareness, newer diagnostic techniques, preventative measures, and antiparasitic drugs are important in reducing the worldwide morbidity and mortality from parasitic helminths and protozoa. This review focuses on common and some uncommon causes of pulmonary parasitic eosinophilia and their manifestations, diagnosis, and management. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16612768) ![Ganesh Krishna, M.D., FCCP](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/7HZoN6h0d4phO4VQYcU6TE-_Cn72_cBpIS3NRGru51E/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Ganesh Krishna, M.D., FCCP Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/ganesh-krishna-md-fccp-1049681082) ## Research topics - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Lung Diseases](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Lung+Diseases%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Update on the treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/update-treatment-lymphangioleiomyomatosis-1055312862) Krishna G, Berry G, Kao P, Rosen G, Raffin TA. Clin Pulmon Med. 6(2):126-132. 1999 Mar 01 - Publication ### [Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle injection of liposomal amphotericin B for the treatment of symptomatic aspergilloma.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/endobrachial-injection-amphotericin-b-aspergilloma-1055312303) Parikh MS, Seeley E, Nguyen-Tran E, Krishna G. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000000383. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 Jun 05 - Publication ### [Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy spares a drunken crab from the surgeon's knife.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/enb-saves-drunken-crab-fr-surgery-1055312421) Parikh MS, Seeley E, Krishna G. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2016 Apr 11 - Publication ### [PG490-88, a derivative of triptolide, blocks bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pg490-88-blocks-bleomycin-induced-lung-fibrosis-1055312795) Krishna G, Liu K, Shigemitsu H, Gao M, Raffin TA, Rosen GD. Am J Pathol. 158(3):997-1004. 2001 Mar 01 - Publication ### [A 35-year-old man with fever, dyspnea, and diffuse reticular opacities.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/35-yo-man-fever-dyspnea-reticular-oopacities-1055312816) Katikireddy CK, Krishna G, Keifer T, Kuschner W, Rosen G. Chest. 129(2):482-7. 2006 Feb 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/parasitic-pulmonary-eosinophilia-1055312949#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/parasitic-pulmonary-eosinophilia-1055312949#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia.","headline":"Parasitic pulmonary eosinophilia.","abstract":"Parasitic infections, although common in tropical and subtropical regions, are prevalent worldwide because of changing immigration patterns and in international travel. The burden of worm infection is enormous and the intensity of infection is usually high among the poor and in immunocompromised individuals. Pulmonary eosinophilia occurs in almost all metazoan infections. In the Western world, the most common infections are caused by Strongyloides, Ascaris, Toxocara, and Ancylostoma species. Most of the nematodes multiply within the human host and cause pulmonary eosinophilia during larval migration through the lungs. Despite larval migration through the lungs, there is usually no permanent lung damage. The result is an increased number of eosinophils in the airways or lung parenchyma with or without peripheral eosinophilia. Löffler's syndrome, visceral larva migrans, and tropical pulmonary eosinophilia are the most common infections that cause pulmonary eosinophilia. The most serious parasitic eosinophilic lung disease is tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, a disorder caused by the filarial worms Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, in which cases have typically been reported to masquerade acute or refractory bronchial asthma. Increasing awareness, newer diagnostic techniques, preventative measures, and antiparasitic drugs are important in reducing the worldwide morbidity and mortality from parasitic helminths and protozoa. 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