[Eosinophilia in Europeans returning from tropical countries (apropos of 36 cases)]

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.