Question

A child had difficulty in breathing and was suspected of having severe asthma. An elevated number of which cells in a routine blood panel might support this diagnosis :

• A. Basophils
• B. Eosinophils
• C. Monocytes
• D. Neutrophils

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Eosinophils

The correct option is B:

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Elevated levels of eosinophils in routine investigations support the diagnosis of asthma.
2. Asthma is an allergic condition and the number of eosinophils increases in allergies.
3. Asthma is a condition in which the respiratory pathway gets inflamed and narrow producing excessive mucus secretions.
4. Asthma makes the breathing process difficult for an individual.

Explanation of the incorrect option:

Option A:

Basophils increase only in a few cases like chronic myelogenous leukemia and not in asthma.

Option C:

Monocytes increase in number in chronic inflammation cases.

Option D:

Neutrophils increase in number in acute inflammation cases.

Final answer: The increase in the number of eosinophils may support the diagnosis of asthma.