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5 terms for people with eosinophilic asthma to understand

Learn about eosinophils, biologic therapies, and other key terms pertaining to e-asthma.

Jan 18, 2026
Home page>Immunology>Asthma>5 terms for people with eosinophilic asthma to understand
Written byJameson Kowalczyk
Medically reviewedbyAnn Wendling, MD, MPHin March 2024
Slide 1
Eosinophils
“Difficult-to-Control”
Severe asthma
Biologic therapy
EGPA or Churg-Strauss Syndrome
1 / 6

Slide 1

Roughly 28 million people in the United States. have asthma, a chronic condition of the respiratory system that makes it difficult to breathe. A person having an asthma attack usually experiences coughing, wheezing, and a sense of breathlessness, and in severe cases, will have severe difficulty breathing. 

There are several different subtypes of asthma, one of which is eosinophilic asthma, or e-asthma. This type of asthma is related to high levels of a white blood cell called eosinophils. Here are several important terms related to e-asthma, as well as a rare disease that is associated with asthma symptoms and very high levels of eosinophils.

Sources (19)
  1. Apfed.org. Eosinophilic Asthma. March 2020.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHIS Child Summary Health Statistics. July 22, 2024.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NHIS Adult Summary Health Statistics. July 22, 2024.
  4. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma Facts and Figures. September 2024.
  5. American Lung Association. What Is Asthma? October 23, 2024.
  6. MedlinePlus. Eosinophilic Disorders. March 29, 2017.
  7. Cincinnati Children’s. What is an Eosinophil? Accessed March 31, 2025.
  8. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Asthma. December 2023.
  9. Mayo Clinic. Eosinophilia. September 8, 2023.
  10. Asthma + Lung UK. Types of Asthma. June 30, 2024.
  11. Yılmaz İ. Confusing Terminology: Difficult Asthma, Difficult-to-Treat Asthma, Difficult-to-Control Asthma, Therapy-Resistant Asthma, Severe Asthma, and Refractory Asthma. Which One is Truly Severe Asthma? Turk Thorac J. 2018 Sep 13;19(4):235-236.
  12. GINA. Difficult-to-treat & severe asthma in adolescent and adult patients. November 2018.
  13. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Drugs for Preventing and Treating Asthma. September 2023.
  14. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Immunomodulator Allergy Medications. January 2024.
  15. Chung KF, Wenzel SE, Brozek JL, Bush A, et al. International ERS/ATS guidelines on definition, evaluation and treatment of severe asthma. Eur Respir J. 2014 Feb;43(2):343-73.
  16. Apfed.org. Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis. March 2020.
  17. Mayo Clinic. Churg-Strauss syndrome. February 7, 2024.
  18. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Churg-Strauss Syndrome Overview. June 10, 2024.
  19. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis. January 2025.
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