Why do I need a white blood count? Symptoms of infection include: Fever Chills Body aches Headache Symptoms of inflammation and autoimmune diseases will be different, depending on the area of inflammation and type of disease. What happens during a white blood count? Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test? You don't need any special preparations for a white blood count.
Are there any risks to the test? What do the results mean? A high white blood count may mean you have one of the following conditions: A bacterial or viral infection An inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis An allergy Leukemia or Hodgkin disease Tissue damage from a burn injury or surgery A low white blood count may mean you have one of the following conditions: Bone marrow damage.
This may be caused by infection, disease, or treatments such as chemotherapy. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider. Is there anything else I need to know about a white blood count? A higher than normal amount of neutrophils is known as neutrophilia. A lower than normal amount is known as neutropenia. A higher than normal amount of lymphocytes is known as lymphocytosis. A lower normal amount is known as lymphopenia. References Cleveland Clinic [Internet].
Cleveland OH : Cleveland Clinic; c Monocytes : are responsible for phagocytosis, or the ingestion of certain organisms or cellular debris. Neutrophils : are the most abundant group, and like monocytes perform phagocytosis of organisms such as fungi and bacteria. Basophils: are the least abundant group, and are involved in immunity response processes to support the release of substances such as histamines or serotonin. Eosinophils : are responsible not only for phagocytosis but also for regulating allergic responses and hypersensitivity reactions that occur when a foreign organism enters the body.
High leukocytes in the blood may be due to the following: Infections, viruses or bacteria. When we catch the flu , a virus or an infection, our body reacts by increasing the number of white blood cells to fight the foreign bodies and maintain health. Anaemia can also produce an increase in white blood cells.
Symptoms of severe stress are also responsible for an increase in leukocytes. The consumption of certain types of medications, drugs or narcotics can also have the same effect. Severe allergic reactions put the body's defense system on alert, causing an increase in white blood cells. The presence of tumors or leukemia also cause a high white blood cell count.
Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Diseases such measles, myelofibrosis or whooping cough also produce an increase in lymphocytes. Pulmonary infarction Tuberculosis. Having a smoking habit. Write a comment. I am a diabetic patient for last 5years now fasting is My white cell count is 28, As an infant, your white blood cell count tends to be higher, and the count steadily decreases to the age of The measurements are taken per microliter or mcL.
The following information is what the Mayo Clinic considers normal white blood cell levels. If these are the normal white blood cell count, then anything above them would be considered elevated. But what are the causes of elevated blood cell levels and what do they mean in terms of your health? An elevated white blood cell count is called leukocytosis and can be evidence that your body is trying to fight off something. If your test results show an elevated white blood cell count, your first thought might be that something horrible is wrong with you.
While many of the causes of an elevated white blood cell count are serious, there are also less worrisome reasons such as external issues that affect the test or lifestyle factors that can easily be altered or avoided. Some of the lesser issues that may be behind an elevated white blood cell count include:. The above complications pretty easily explain the elevated white blood cell count.
If they do elevate the white blood cell count, they can quickly be accounted for or stopped in time for the next round of tests. For any given value, a result can be too high, too low, or unusual in relation to another value. For instance, the white blood cell differential may show an abnormal skew in WBC types.
Abnormal results can indicate an issue in the bone marrow — where blood cells are made — or a variety of other disease processes. Although normal ranges are an expression of what is normal for the majority of healthy people, those with underlying conditions may have lower or higher ranges that are normal for them.
For instance, in people living with heart disease, a higher-than-normal RBC count may be normal. Your CBC results will help your doctor better understand how your leukemia and leukemia treatments are affecting your body. If results show your risk for serious side effects or complications is rising, your doctor may make a change in your leukemia treatment or prescribe other medications to address the problem.
Anemia may occur when there are too few red blood cells being made in the bone marrow, or when the red cells are being destroyed by disease. Anemia can also be a consequence of low levels of iron, B12, or folate in the diet, along with other potential causes — including heavy or persistent bleeding. The primary symptoms of anemia are fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.
If your RBC count, hematocrit, or hemoglobin are low, your doctor may order a follow-up blood test called a reticulocyte count. Reticulocytes are immature RBCs. Counting them can help determine whether the problem is reduced RBC production or if the cells are being destroyed. If red blood cell levels are too high , it may mean there is not enough oxygen in the blood.
It can also indicate dehydration. In rare cases, a high RBC count may be due to polycythemia vera , a type of blood cancer in which RBCs are overproduced by the bone marrow. Overly high red blood cell counts are treated by drawing blood until the count is lowered. In some cases, medication might be used to reduce the amount of red cells. A low platelet count , also referred to as thrombocytopenia, can indicate potential problems with blood clotting. Thrombocytopenia may occur when insufficient numbers of platelets are being made in the bone marrow, or platelets are being destroyed.
In some cases, the body does not recognize the platelets as part of one's normal immune system and attacks them. Symptoms of low platelet count are bruising easily, excessive bleeding from minor cuts and scrapes, and bleeding from the nose or gums. Transfusion is the most common way of treating low platelets, but your doctor may suggest other methods to reduce the chance of bleeding.
If a blood test shows your platelets are low, your doctor may recommend avoiding common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs like aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen.
These medications can interfere with the blood's ability to clot. A high platelet count is called thrombocytosis. The two most common causes are a pre-existing condition or a bone marrow abnormality. High platelet counts can lead to stroke, heart attack, or a blood clot in a vein.
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