Why leukocytes are elevated and what to do about it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It can be an infection or just stress.

Leukocytes are an essential part of the White Blood Count (WBC) of the immune system. It is they, the white blood cells, that help the body fight various diseases - from viral and bacterial infections to cancerous tumors.

The process is simple: as soon as the immune system is faced with a threat, it first sends a signal to the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells to fight off the disease. The level of leukocytes in the blood rises sharply. Doctors call this increase leukocytosis.

How to know if you have high white blood cells

Leukocytosis does not necessarily manifest itself with any symptoms. Sometimes an overuse with white cells is discovered by accident - when you do a general blood test, for example, for a regular preventive examination.

But a therapist or other doctor who is observing you may suggest that you check the white blood cells with a sighting. Typically, a White Blood Count (WBC) test is done if there are signs of infection, inflammation, or an autoimmune disease. Here are the main ones:

• high fever that lasts for several days in a row or appears after a seemingly already suffered illness;
• muscle and joint pain;
• headache;
• chills;
• night sweats;
• enlarged lymph nodes or an enlarged spleen.

What is the level of white blood cells is considered high

On average, the blood of an adult healthy person contains Overview of White Blood Cell Disorders from 4 to 11 thousand leukocytes per milliliter (4–11 × 10⁹ / l). Children have High White Blood Cell Count - 5-10 thousand (5-10 × 10⁹ / l).

If the total white blood cell count is greater than 11 × 10⁹ / L, an increased white blood cell count, or leukocytosis, is indicated.

Why are leukocytes increased?

These are the most common causes of High white blood cell count, due to which the number of white cells in the blood increases.

1. Infection

And any: viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic.

2. Damage to body tissues

Leukocytosis is often recorded in burns, wounds, or after major surgical interventions. This is how the body tries to protect itself from the possible spread of infection.

3. Autoimmune diseases

These are conditions in which the immune system begins to attack the cells of its own body. It can be, for example, systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.

4. Taking some medications

There are drugs that the immune system identifies as a threat. For example, corticosteroids, epinephrine, lithium High White Blood Cell Count, and beta agonists (drugs that are prescribed to improve breathing).

5. Stress

For example, physical or emotional stress.

6. Allergic reactions

Leukocyte counts are most noticeable in severe allergies such as anaphylactic shock. But it can also grow with the usual seasonal fever or food sensitization reactions.

7. Pregnancy and childbirth

Evaluation of Patients with Leukocytosis may rise to 15.9 × 10⁹ / L in pregnant women.

This is a variant of the norm: the number of white blood cells increases due to stress and physical changes that a woman is experiencing. After childbirth, the level of leukocytes returns to standard values.

8. Diseases of the bone marrow and blood

Sometimes, leukemia or lymphomas cause the bone marrow to increase production of white blood cells.

What to do if leukocytes are elevated

Seek medical attention with test results. Moreover, to the one that sent you to research.

The fact is that you cannot decipher the test results by themselves. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to correlate the level of leukocytes with additional factors Evaluation of Patients with Leukocytosis:

• Symptoms.
• The age and gender of the patient.
• His way of life.
• The presence of chronic diseases.
• Bad habits. Sometimes an elevated white blood cell count may even be due to the fact that a person smokes High white blood cell count.
• Leukocyte formula. This is the percentage of different types of white blood cells in the total number of white blood cells. There are five of these types: neutrophils (normally 40–60% of the total number of leukocytes), lymphocytes (20–40%), monocytes (2–8%), eosinophils (1–4%), basophils (0, 5– 1%). An increase or decrease in the level of each type of white blood cell in some cases may indicate a specific disease.

Only a qualified physician can draw the correct conclusion from the general picture and find the real cause of leukocytosis. Additional studies may be needed: biochemical blood test, urinalysis, and others.

When your doctor discovers what kind of disease or condition caused the leukocytosis, you will be prescribed treatment. After that, the level of white blood cells in the blood will return to normal.