Blood Health
Absolute Eosinophils
What This Marker Tells Us
Measures eosinophils in your blood, specialized white blood cells that defend against parasitic infections and play key roles in allergic responses and asthma.
Why It Matters
Eosinophils combat parasitic infections, modulate allergic responses, and can contribute to tissue damage when chronically elevated. They release toxic granules that kill parasites but can also damage your own tissues in allergic and inflammatory conditions. Elevated eosinophils (eosinophilia) commonly indicate allergies, asthma, eczema, drug reactions, parasitic infections, or rarely eosinophilic disorders or cancers. Very high eosinophils can cause organ damage (eosinophilic syndromes) affecting the heart, lungs, or nervous system. Low eosinophils are less clinically significant but may occur with acute stress or steroid use. Persistent eosinophilia warrants investigation for parasites (especially with travel history), uncontrolled allergic disease, or hematologic disorders.
How to Interpret Your Trends
Normal absolute eosinophil count is approximately 0-500 cells/μL (0-5% of WBC). Mild eosinophilia (500-1,500 cells/μL) commonly reflects allergies, asthma, eczema, or drug reactions. Moderate eosinophilia (1,500-5,000 cells/μL) may indicate parasitic infections, severe allergic disease, or eosinophilic disorders requiring investigation. Severe eosinophilia (above 5,000 cells/μL) raises concern for hypereosinophilic syndrome, eosinophilic leukemia, or parasitic infections, potentially causing organ damage. Very low eosinophils (near 0) can occur with acute stress, infection, or steroid use.
What Influences This Marker
Eosinophils increase with allergic conditions (asthma, hay fever, eczema, food allergies), parasitic infections, drug reactions, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, Churg-Strauss syndrome, certain cancers (lymphoma, leukemia), and sometimes with autoimmune conditions. They decrease with acute bacterial infections, steroid medications, acute stress, and Cushing's syndrome. Travel to areas with endemic parasites increases risk of parasitic eosinophilia.
How Your Team Uses It
Your coach addresses allergic and inflammatory drivers through dietary strategies by identifying potential food sensitivities, emphasizing anti-inflammatory foods rich in omega-3s, and supporting gut health which influences allergic responses. For elevated eosinophils, they may suggest allergen avoidance strategies and ensure nutrition supports immune regulation.
Related Signals We Also Review
Total WBC, IgE levels, allergy testing, parasitic screening (stool tests), pulmonary function testing if indicated, and clinical symptoms for complete eosinophil evaluation.