Investigations on the level of circulating eosinophils throughout a 24 hour period in parasitic disease.

Circulating absolute eosinophil levels were studied over a 24 hour period in a series of 10 patients with presumed parasitological disease. Seven of these ten had the distinct nocturnal increase and a percentage swing paralleling that found in normal subjects. Three patients had a reversed pattern. The latter were thought to have one or other form of filariasis. Two patients with loasis and a "physiological response" had suppression as anticipated to exogenous steroid. It is concluded that steroid administration will not separate parasitic from other causes of eosinophilia.