PULMONARY EOSINOPHILIA DUE TO TRICHOMONAS-TENAX

A 39 year old woman was admitted with fever and an exacerbation of ast hma. The chest radiograph showed extensive bilateral lung infiltrates, but transtracheal needle aspiration did not reveal any infectious org anisms. The bronchoalveolar fluid lavage contained a large number of T richomonas tenax and an increased percentage of eosinophils. Corticost eroids provided a dramatic response. Because of the relatively high fr equency of colonisation of the human mouth by T tenax (about 20%), thi s organism should be considered in all cases of pulmonary eosinophilia .