National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia

Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia (IAEP) is characterized by the rapid accumulation of eosinophils in the lungs. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell and are part of the immune system.[1] IAEP can occur at any age but most commonly affects otherwise healthy individuals between 20 and 40 years of age. Signs and symptoms may include fever, cough, fatigue, difficulty breathing (dyspnea), muscle pain, and chest pain. IAEP can progress rapidly to acute respiratory failure.[1][2] The term “idiopathic” means the exact cause for the overproduction of eosinophils is not known. Possible triggers of acute eosinophilic pneumonia include cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to dust and smoke, and certain medications. [1] Diagnosis of IAEP generally involves a bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).[1] Treatment with corticosteroids is effective in most cases. Because IAEP often progresses rapidly, respiratory failure can occur; in these cases, mechanical ventilation is required.[1][2][3]
Last updated: 3/24/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Chest pain 0100749
Fever 0001945
Pulmonary infiltrates
Lung infiltrates
0002113
Respiratory insufficiency
Respiratory impairment
0002093
Restrictive ventilatory defect
Stiff lung or chest wall causing decreased lung volume
0002091
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain
[ more ] 		0002027
Abnormal eosinophil morphology 0001879
Abnormal pattern of respiration
Abnormal respiratory patterns
Unusual breathing patterns
[ more ] 		0002793
Abnormal pleura morphology 0002103
Cough
Coughing
0012735
Myalgia
Muscle ache
Muscle pain
[ more ] 		0003326
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Differential diagnosis includes acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP), acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (see these terms), severe community-acquired pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis and fungal or parasitic infections.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Cottin, Vincent. Acute Eosinophilic Pneumonia. National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD). 2015; http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/acute-eosinophilic-pneumonia/. Accessed 3/23/2016.
  2. Dubus, Jean-Christophe. Idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Orphanet. November, 2013; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=en&Expert=724. Accessed 3/23/2016.
  3. Wechsler, Michael. Eosinophilic Pneumonia. American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (Apfed). http://apfed.org/about-ead/eosinophilic-pneumonia/. Accessed 3/23/2016.