Eosinophilic asthma, also known as e-asthma or just eos asthma, is a health condition characterized by high levels of certain white blood cells in the airways. This condition mainly affects adults and is often severe. Even at high doses, primary asthma treatment options, such as inhaled corticosteroids, have little to no impact on the condition. Further, several remedies can lessen the frequency of attacks from eosinophilic asthma. Read further to learn more about this condition.

Causes
Doctors are yet to determine the exact cause of eosinophilic asthma. Also, no evident factors, such as food choices or physical activities, increase one’s risk of developing it. Eosinophilic asthma develops when the lungs become inflamed due to an abundance of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. These white blood cells are there to help in the defense against infections. These immune cells can occasionally overreact and lead to inflammation throughout the body, including the lungs. High eosinophil counts can cause airway edema in people, exacerbating asthma symptoms. The exact reason behind this is yet to be ascertained. Elevated blood eosinophil counts are frequently utilized as a substitute for lung samples in diagnosing individuals with difficult-to-control asthma since they can be challenging to obtain.

Symptoms
Eosinophilic asthma frequently manifests as the following-

• Restricted airways
• Coughing
• Chest constriction
• Breathing difficulty or shortness of breath
• Chronic sinus infection symptoms(stuffy nose, nasal discharge, diminished sense of smell, and wheezing)
• Nasal polyps
• Eosinophilia, or blood eosinophil counts that are greater than usual

While other types of asthma share these symptoms, they are frequently more severe and persistent in eosinophilic asthma. Additionally, one might be more prone to experience frequent asthma attacks while dealing with this condition. In most scenarios, asthma enlarges the airways in your lungs. As a result, your entire respiratory system swells due to eosinophilic asthma, including your nose and the smallest airways.

Diagnosis
There are three approaches to diagnosing eosinophilic asthma –

Sputum sample analysis
The patient coughs out a small quantity of mucus to be collected in a sample of sputum for testing. This sample is then studied under a microscope. This non-invasive procedure can be carried out in a doctor’s office. Eosinophilic asthma is indicated by sputum with more than 2-3% eosinophilic cells.

Eosinophilic asthma blood test
Here, the eosinophil count in a patient’s blood is evaluated. Venipuncture, commonly known as a blood draw, is a quick and painless process. The procedure could be carried out at a doctor’s office. A high eosinophil count (at least 150 cells/ul but typically over 300 cells/ul) is observed in people with eosinophilic asthma. It is not always the case that someone with high eosinophil counts also has this condition. Other eosinophil-associated diseases can also cause too many eosinophils in the blood.

Bronchial biopsy
An upper airway biopsy, carried out during a bronchoscopy, is another approach to finding out if you have e-asthma. Several different lung disorders can be diagnosed using this approach to find unusual cells. A bronchoscope – a tiny tube is inserted via the mouth or nose. Small tissue or fluid samples are then taken (biopsy) and examined to determine the presence of eosinophils. This treatment is carried out while the patient is under local or general anesthesia, but usually, no hospitalization is necessary.

Other methods
Several approaches can be used to diagnose eosinophilic asthma. To screen for eosinophilia, your doctor may do a complete blood count (CBC) (increased eosinophil count). If your blood eosinophil count is high, your doctor may also consider certain cancers, some autoimmune diseases, parasite infections, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and negative responses to prescriptions.

Treatment
Conventional guideline-based therapy is the first step in the management of e-asthma. For instance, two options are typically prescribed for asthmatics- an option used to control airway edema that is typically an inhaled corticosteroid and a quick-relief treatment that eases bronchospasms to soothe symptoms when they arise – when the muscles around the airways contract and constrict. Inhaled corticosteroids and a rescue inhaler are two common asthma treatments. Since not everyone can benefit from inhaled corticosteroids, a health expert might advise taking prescriptions instead. Several other options used for eosinophilic asthma treatment include-

• Rescue inhalers – People with asthma frequently receive prescriptions for rescue inhalers. They can benefit those with e-asthma, but they could become less effective over time.
• Leukotriene modifiers – A person’s body contains compounds called leukotrienes that work in concert with eosinophils to cause inflammation. Leukotriene modifiers battle the inflammatory reaction these substances bring about in the body.
• Biologic therapies – These treatments stop your body’s production of the chemicals that trigger swelling and inflammation. Instead, they are administered intravenously (IV) drip-style or by injection.
• Bronchodilators – These treatments loosen and widen the airways to ease asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath.

Poorly managed eosinophilic asthma can lead to severe, life-threatening complications, including respiratory failure. Therefore, understanding the risk factors, causes, and remedies linked to this condition is necessary for timely diagnosis and management. Those who want to know more about this condition can consult a healthcare professional for expert opinion.