Why are leukocytes needed and how many should be normal?

What are leukocytes

Leukocytes Low White Blood Cell Count are blood cells that are one of the most important elements of the immune system. They are produced in the bone marrow and help the body to detect and fight various infections (viral, bacterial, fungal) and other foreign objects (for example, cancer cells or allergenic substances).

Unlike erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes do not have their own color. This is where their name comes from. The root "leuko" in translation from ancient Greek means "white", and leukocytes, respectively, white blood cells.

What are leukocytes

Doctors classify white blood cells into three main categories of What to know about white blood cells: granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Together, they make up the so-called leukocyte formula.

Granulocytes

Granulocytes are leukocytes with an unusual structure. They contain granules containing proteins inside. Because of this composition, they are also called granular leukocytes.

Granulocytes, in turn, are divided into three types:

Neutrophils. These cells make up the Blood differential test 40-60% of the total number of leukocytes. Doctors call Blood Basics their immediate response cells: it is neutrophils that are the first to rush to detected bacteria, fungi, and other harmful substances and envelop them in order to destroy and then remove them from the body.
Basophils (0.5-1%). These white blood cells help the body fight off allergens in the first place.
Eosinophils (1-4%). Their function is to fight parasitic infections. In addition, eosinophils play an important role in the overall immune response and the triggering of inflammatory responses.

Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes make up the Blood differential test from 20% to 40% of all leukocytes and include:

B-cells. These white blood cells produce the antibodies needed to fight viral and bacterial infections.
T cells. They keep in themselves "portraits" of all infections that the body has previously encountered. And in this way they help to recognize viruses and bacteria. In addition, this type of lymphocyte destroys the cells of its own body damaged by the infection in order to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Natural killer cells. They also kill cells infected with viruses or bacteria. They are also an important part of antitumor immunity, since they also remove those elements that are affected by cancer.

Monocytes

Monocytes make up the Blood differential test 2–8% of the total number of leukocytes. Their main task is to fight chronic infections.

Why do you need to determine the level of leukocytes in the blood

By the number of white blood cells, you can judge the Blood differential test, what a person is sick with and whether they are sick at all.

So, an increased white blood cell count usually says White Blood Count (WBC):

about bacterial or viral infections;
about autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis;
about allergic reactions;
about inflammation caused by trauma, burns, surgery;
some types of cancer.

A lack of leukocytes may indicate:

for problems with the immune system (for example, HIV / AIDS);
on liver or spleen disease;
for autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus;
for bone marrow cancer.

How is the level of leukocytes in the blood determined?

This indicator is included in the general blood test. It is done by taking a couple of drops of blood from a vein with a needle.

If you go to a doctor (it doesn't matter, a therapist or a specialist) with complaints of poor health and the doctor suspects a medical condition, he will first give you a referral for this test.

What is the norm of leukocytes in the blood

The human body produces about 100 billion Low White Blood Cell Counts daily. This is justified, since every day we are faced with pathogens of various diseases and our immunity must be ready for these meetings. For example, if the body is attacked by an infection, and there are few leukocytes, it will break through the immune defense and the person will get sick.

Normal Overview of White Blood Cell Disorders The level of leukocytes in adults is from 4 to 11 thousand cells per microliter of blood. Or 4–11 × 10⁹ / l.

If the number of leukocytes is below this level, doctors talk about a condition called "leukopenia". If higher - about leukocytosis. Both conditions indicate probable health problems.

To determine the disease, the doctor will also analyze the leukocyte formula. Ideally, it looks like Complete Blood Count (CBC) like this:

Index	Norm
Neutrophils (absolute value)	1, 8–7, 8 × 10⁹ / l
Lymphocytes	1.0–4.8 × 10⁹ / l
Monocytes	0–0.8 × 10⁹ / l
Eosinophils	0–0.45 × 10⁹ / l
Basophils	0–0, 2 × 10⁹ / l

What to do if the white blood cell count is higher or lower than normal

Consult with the doctor - therapist or specialized specialist who issued you a referral for analysis.

Please note that only a medic can decipher the test. It will take into account your symptoms, medical history, heredity, lifestyle, the results of other studies. All this will allow him to add a complete picture of your health. Only then can a diagnosis and treatment be prescribed.