Eosinophilia in Migrant Children: How Should We Proceed?

BACKGROUND

The diagnostic approach to eosinophilia is complex, given the numerous reported etiologies. Intestinal parasites (especially helminths) are a concern in children from high-burden settings. We describe the diagnostic approach and clinical management of eosinophilia in a cohort of migrant children.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study that included children diagnosed with eosinophilia at a reference center for pediatric tropical diseases from 2014 to 2018. All patients were screened according to a unified protocol, including direct microbiologic and serologic tests.

RESULTS

A total of 163 children presented with eosinophilia during the study period [median age, 7.7 years (4.1-12.2); 57.1% boys], mostly from Asia (27.6%) and South America (22.1%). Most were internationally adopted children (43.6%) or migrants (26.4%). Only 34.4% of the children were symptomatic, and the main etiology for eosinophilia was helminths (56.4%). After a sequential diagnostic approach, no etiology was found for 40.5% of the patients. The independent risk factors for an unexplained etiology were younger age (≤2 years: odds ratio, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.2; P = 0.015), absence of symptoms (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.8-12.5; P = 0.001) and mild eosinophilia (<1000/µL: odds ratio, 4.2; 95% CI, 4.5-11.7; P = 0.005). Only 6 children were treated empirically. In those children with an identified cause and in those treated empirically, the eosinophilia resolved in 52% in a median of 7 months (5-9).

CONCLUSIONS

Helminths are the main cause of eosinophilia in migrant children and need to be hunted, especially in older children with eosinophil counts >1000 eosinophils/µL.