Q: I am a 41-year-old male. The eosinophil level in my blood report is higher than normal. At present it is two point high. What could be the reason behind high eosinophilia? Will this lead to any major problems? I also want to know if I need to take any precautions for it.

A:White blood cells in the blood (leukocytes) comprise granulocytes (cells with granules in their cytoplasm) and mononuclear cells. Granulocytes are of three types – neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils while mononuclear cells are lymphocytes and monocytes. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells (WBCs) produced in the bone marrow that contain proteins that contribute to the immunologic responses against infectious disease agents and to tissue damage in allergic and autoimmune diseases. Normally, the absolute eosinophil count in the blood is around 500 per microlitre but it can increase in: allergic conditions (asthma, allergic rhinitis, drug reactions), infectious diseases (especially worm infestation), some connective tissue diseases, malignancies, etc. The treatment is guided by the underlying condition that has given rise to eosinophilia.