How to Lower Eosinophils

Increase your daily vitamin D intake. People with low vitamin D levels are more likely to have eosinophilia. ^[6] There are two ways to increase your vitamin D intake. Sunbathe for about 5 minutes (for people with very light skin) to 30 minutes (for people with darker skin) at least 2 times per week. Another way to get vitamin D is to take a vitamin D supplement ^{. [7]}

• To get vitamin D from the sun, go out in the sun. Vitamin D is contained in UVB rays which cannot penetrate glass, so it would be useless if you just sat inside the window.
• The sun’s rays are also partially blocked by clouds, so you need to stay outside a little longer on cloudy days.

Drink ginger to reduce inflammation. Ginger is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Although still being researched, ginger has also been shown to reduce eosinophils in the first place. Take a daily ginger supplement or make ginger tea to take advantage of ginger’s benefits. ^[8]

• You can buy ginger tea at most grocery stores. Drop the tea bag into the cup and pour in the boiling water. Wait a few minutes for the tea to infuse before drinking.

Use turmeric to reduce inflammation associated with medication. Turmeric may help reduce eosinophil levels in some cases. To take advantage of turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties, you should take a higher dose of turmeric. Remember that turmeric is quite expensive so it may not be the best option. ^[9]

• Try taking turmeric for 1-2 months, and stop taking it if it doesn’t work.

See your doctor for a complete examination. There are many conditions that cause eosinophil levels to rise, including blood diseases, allergies, digestive disorders, connective tissue disorders, parasitic infections or fungal infections. You will have blood and skin samples taken to find the cause. In rare cases, your doctor may also order stool tests, CT scans, or bone marrow tests. ^[10]

• Primary eosinophilia is an elevation of eosinophils in the blood caused by a blood disease, such as leukemia.
• Secondary eosinophilia is caused by other medical conditions, such as asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or eczema.
• Hypereosinophilia is the term for elevated eosinophils with no apparent cause.
• If eosinophil levels affect certain organs in the body, you may be diagnosed with a specific hypereosinophil syndrome. Eosinophilic esophagitis affects the esophagus, while eosinophilic asthma affects the lungs.

See an allergist for allergy testing. Because allergies often cause eosinophilia, your GP may refer you to an allergist. Your doctor may do a skin test, which means they will apply a small amount of common allergens to your skin to check for a reaction. You may also have a blood sample taken for allergy diagnostic testing. ^[11]

• If your doctor suspects you have a food allergy, your doctor may recommend an elimination diet. Accordingly, you will stop eating certain foods, then eat them again one at a time. An allergist will run blood tests to determine if any foods are affecting your eosinophil levels. ^[12]

Take corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are currently the only drugs used to directly treat eosinophilia. Steroid medications can reduce inflammation caused by elevated eosinophil levels. Depending on the cause of your eosinophilia, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication or an inhaler. Prednisone is the most common corticosteroid medication prescribed by doctors to treat eosinophilia. You should always take your medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. ^[13]

• If you’re not sure what’s causing your eosinophilia, your doctor may start you on low-dose corticosteroids. You will be monitored to see if your condition improves. ^[14]
• Do not take corticosteroids if you have a parasitic or fungal infection. Steroids can make the condition worse.
• If you are taking prednisone, never suddenly stop taking it if you have been taking it for more than 3 weeks. You need to gradually reduce the dosage.
• If your doctor prescribes high-strength topical steroids, do not take them for more than 2 weeks at a time.

Kill the parasites if you have a parasitic infection. A parasitic infection has symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating/distension, fatigue, or sudden weight loss. To get rid of the parasites and return the eosinophil to normal, your doctor will give you medication to kill certain parasites. Your doctor will not prescribe corticosteroids, as steroids can make some parasitic infections worse. ^[15]

• Methods of killing parasites can vary based on the type of parasite you are infected with. In many cases, your doctor will prescribe medication to be taken daily.

Treat gastroesophageal reflux disease if you have eosinophilic esophagitis. Eosinophils can be caused by acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or another digestive disorder. To determine if you have eosinophilic esophagitis, your doctor will order an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with an endoscope inserted into the esophagus (EGD) and conduct a biopsy. Your doctor may prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium or Prevacid to treat the condition. ^[16]

• Eosinophilic esophagitis does not increase the risk of esophageal cancer. However, this disease increases the risk of narrowing of the esophagus, causing food to get stuck.

Treat respiratory illness if you have eosinophilic asthma. Your doctor may prescribe inhaled corticosteroids or a biologic drug called a monoclonal antibody. You may also have thermal bronchial reconstruction. With this procedure, your doctor inserts a probe into your mouth and nose to soothe your airways with heat. ^[17]

• You will be sedated during the procedure. However, you should recover within a few hours of the procedure.

Get a prescription for imatinib if you have hypereosinophilia. Hypereosinophilia syndrome can cause blood cancers, such as eosinophilic leukemia. To reduce this risk, you may be prescribed the drug imatinib. The drug will treat hypereosinophilia syndrome and slow the growth of cancer cells. Your doctor may watch to see if a tumor has formed. ^[18]