Purpose

Eosinophils are usually abundant in nasal discharges of allergic individuals. The presence of eosinophils in nasal discharge smears may be helpful in diagnosing allergic reactions from the common cold or infection.

Urine eosinophilia may help suggest a diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) in patients, a positive finding may be seen with other conditions, and a negative finding does not exclude the diagnosis. Urine eosinophilia may also be found in other conditions including transplant rejection, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, cystitis, artheroembolic disease, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.