{
  "abstract": "Peripheral eosinophilia (>0.5×109/L) in the full blood count is caused by a variety of infectious and non-infectious aetiologies. Of particular importance to the UK military are parasitic infections, especially in individuals recruited from overseas and those who have deployed to areas that are highly endemic for schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis and soil-transmitted helminths. These infections may persist for decades without causing symptoms. UK Armed Forces (UKAF) personnel have recently presented with more severe forms of strongyloidiasis, which can be fatal, especially following immunosuppression for chronic non-communicable diseases. Most uncomplicated infections respond to oral ivermectin or oral praziquantel, which are easy to take and generally well tolerated. We present the histories of three UKAF personnel to raise awareness of these infections, and we describe a framework for the initial investigation and management of people found to have eosinophilia in military primary care settings, together with indications for onward referral to infection or haematology specialists. Furthermore, given their relatively unknown prevalence in the UKAF Forces population, increased awareness and seroprevalence studies may be beneficial.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Matthew J W Kain"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Marchwood Barracks, Medical Centre, Southmapton, UK"
      ],
      "name": "C Hughes"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK",
        "Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK",
        "Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "W Nevin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK",
        "Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "S Defres"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "A Checkley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "M Bailey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK",
        "Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "M K O’Shea"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK",
        "Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "T Fletcher"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK",
        "Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "N J Beeching"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK",
        "Academic Department of Military Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK",
        "Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "S Woolley"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Illustrative case series of eosinophilia in UK Armed Forces personnel and recommended management for non-specialists",
  "uid": "a991175a-3327-5523-9b70-1fc5b8fc7a00"
}