[Difficulties in diagnosing idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome in Black Africa. A case report observed in Senegal].

A combination of febrile malaise with adenopathy, massive hypereosinophilia (62678 components/mm3) and visceral, cutaneous, central nervous and digestive infiltration suggesting essential hypereosinophilic syndrome was observed in a 42-year-old male Senegalese. Diagnosis was confirmed after excluding all other possible causes in particular parasitic infection and by the rapidly fatal outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of essential hypereosinophilic syndrome in West Africa. Because of the high incidence of parasitic hypereosinophilia in this region and the non-specific nature of the symptoms, diagnosis of this syndrome can be difficult. In Africa more than elsewhere, diagnosis must be made after elimination of all other possible causes based on the criteria of Chusid. Although uncommon, essential hypereosinophilic syndrome has an unfavorable prognosis even when immunosuppressor therapy is administered.