[Eosinophilia in Europeans returning from tropical countries (apropos of 36 cases)]. / Etude des hyperéosinophilies sanguines chez l'Européen au retour des pays tropicaux (à propos de 36 cas).

The etiological investigation of hypereosinophilia in 36 Europeans having returned from tropical zones permitted, by direct and indirect paraclinical tests, the diagnosis of helminthiasis in 26 cases (72.2%). The parasites in cause were bilharziosis, filariosis, strongyloidiasis, ankylostomiasis and liver flukes. Certain subjects were polyparasited. The investigation remained negative for 6 patients (16.6%), even though a parasitism was strongly suspected in at least 5 cases. In the other cases (11.1%) the etiological investigation remained doubtful with the exception of a case of non parasitic eosinophilia (polymyositis). There still remains much progress to make in rendering the actual serological tests more specific, more constant and presenting less cross reactions.