Helminth-related Eosinophilia in African Immigrants, Gran Canaria

Abstract

Of 788 recent African adult immigrants to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 213 (27.0%) had eosinophilia. The most frequent causes were filariasis (29.4%), schistosomiasis (17.2%), and hookworm infection (16.8%). Stool microscopy and filarial and schistosomal serologic tests gave the highest diagnostic yield. Country of origin and eosinophil count were associated with specific diagnoses.

Keywords

• immigrants
• eosinophilia
• Africa
• helminths
• Spain
• Nigeria