A Case of Tropical Pulmonary Eosinophilia

Background: Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) is a prominent feature of lymphatic filariasis caused predominantly by lymphatic-dwelling filarial infections (e.g., Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Brugia timori).While some filarial species are endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, worldwide travel and immigration have resulted in incidences in non-endemic areas.Case description: A 26-year-old laboratory worker with a 3-month history of nonproductive cough, dyspnea, and intermittent fever.Initially diagnosed with asthma, but symptoms continued despite medication.Eosinophilia, increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and reticulonodular lung opacities were discovered in laboratory tests.Spirometry revealed restrictive as well as obstructive behaviors.Clinical criteria validated the diagnosis of TPE, and therapy with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) led to significant symptom alleviation and laboratory improvements.Discussion: Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is difficult to diagnose due to its diverse appearance, miming illnesses such as asthma and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.Clinical factors such as residence/travel history, paroxysmal cough, eosinophilia, increased IgE, lung infiltrations, and response to DEC are used to make an accurate diagnosis.Furthermore, differential diagnoses include a variety of eosinophilic lung disorders.Clinicians should be cautious in non-endemic areas and rule out other illnesses caused by helminth infections, such as Loeffler syndrome.Conclusion: This case emphasizes the necessity of including TPE in the differential diagnosis of respiratory symptoms, particularly in nonendemic locations, and indicates the efficacy of DEC in treating this illness.