Eosinophilia in a newborn: a case of giardiasis and milk allergy

Abstract

Helminths induced eosinophilia is well known. Recent studies have been demonstrating that Giardia Lamblia is also able to cause eosinophilia and suggest that children with giardiasis have a higher risk of food allergy. Newborn premature male patient, admitted to neonatology unit since birth, who presented persistent eosinophilia, associated with vomiting and abdominal distention when he ingested a not hydrolyzed milk formula. The subsequent study revealed milk allergy (grade II/III) but also of Giardia on stool. The child was treated with metronidazol with clinical improvement. This case pretends to underline the importance of person-to-person transmission as far as Giardia infection is concerned and especially among young children. We also would like to emphasize a possible relation between giardiasis and food allergy, which has occasionally been described in recent literature.