First things first: Importance of eosinophil count in diagnosing occult parasites

Abstract

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is a rare allergic manifestation to the filarial nematode. A 38-year old male and a 15-year old female presented with cough and breathlessness. Their complete blood count showed eosinophilia. This finding was overshadowed by the radiological findings suggestive of tuberculosis. The diagnosis of TPE was confirmed by filarial antigen detection test and both the patients were successfully treated with diethylcarbamazine. TPE presents with cough and breathlessness and can be often confused with tuberculosis, especially in endemic settings. An important clue in differentiating the two entities is the presence of eosinophilia in the former.