High WBC Count: The Causes and How to lower it in infants – In each microliter of older person’s blood, there is normally 3,500-10,500 of white blood cells or leukocytes. However, if the number of leukocytes is too high, it is a sign we suffer from certain diseases.
Leukocytes or white blood cells come from the bone marrow and circulate throughout the bloodstream. They are an important part of our immune system. This part of the blood is capable of producing antibodies to fight against foreign organisms (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) as a defense against infections, responding to allergies, and supporting immune function.
Newborns have leukocytes between 9,000 to 30,000 per microliter of blood. The range of normal leukocytes will change with increasing age, up to 3,500-10,500 per microliter as we grow up. In older people, white blood cell count or high leukocytes if it reaches more than 11,000 per microliter.
Types of blood cells.
There are basically three types of blood cells: red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelet that make the blood can freeze, as well as white blood cells (leukocytes) that help the body fight infections.
Types of white blood cells.
There are 5 main types of white blood cells, namely: basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Each type of white blood cell has a role in the immune system.
Leukocytosis is a situation when a person produces more white blood cells than normal levels.
Blood tests are performed to determine the level of this white blood cell. Usually, the excess of white blood cells is found when the doctor is about to diagnose and find the cause of certain symptoms complained of the patient, such as fever. The results of these examinations and other advanced test results, then determine the cause of the symptoms you are experiencing.
Read also: The functions of urine test.
Causes of High WBC Count.
Here is the cause of High WBC Count that are characterized by the high percentage of leukocytes, to the extent exceeding the normal limit.
High neutrophil count.
Neutrophils accounted for the largest volume of whole leukocyte content. If the neutrophil levels are above the fair limit, then there are a number of possibilities that cause this to occur, among them:
- Physical injury.
- Wound post Surgery.
- Chronic myelocytotic leukemia.
- Seizures or coma in pregnant women (eclampsia).
- Uric acid.
- Bacterial infections.
- Viral infections.
- Acute yeast infection.
- Thyroid inflammation.
- Excessive stress.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
Read also: Slow wound healing causes.
High lymphocyte count.
Meanwhile, if that has the above normal amount of lymphocytes, then the cause of this high leukocytes is:
- Bacterial infections (pertussis, tuberculosis).
- The gland fever (mononucleosis).
- Lymphoma.
- Virus.
- Blood cancer (multiple myeloma, lymphocytic leukemia).
- Hepatitis.
Number of high monocytes.
Causes of high leukocytes caused by abnormal monocyte levels include:
- Tuberculosis.
- Leukemia.
- Parasitic infections.
- Bacterial infections.
- Viral infections (measles, mononucleosis).
- Acute inflammation (vasculitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis).
High number of Eusinophil.
High Eusinophil is generally caused by a number of problems, such as:
- Connective tissue disease.
- Addison’s disease.
- Hypereosinophilic syndrome
- Blood cancer.
- Parasitic infections.
- Allergic reaction.
Number of Basophil high.
Basophil is a component of white blood with the percentage of the least amount. The causes of these high leukocytes are:
- Chickenpox.
- Leukemia.
- Chronic myelogenic.
- Postoperative recovery of Spleen (splenectomy).
- Allergic reactions.
- Mieloproliferative.
- Acute inflammation.
How to lower High WBC Count in infants.
The first way to lower leukocytes is to provide antibiotics in infants, if this increase is caused by an indication that the infant is infected with an infection due to fungi, bacteria, or other indications of infection. Of course, this antibiotic administration is adjusted to the cause of infection.
The administration of antibiotics was followed by the administration of other medicines according to the doctor’s recommendation in accordance with the indication of infection that was suffered by infants. However, when the occurrence of this increase is due to abnormalities in the baby’s white blood cells, it is usually recommended to do chemotherapy or radiation in accordance with the results of a doctor’s diagnosis.
As long as the infant is undergoing treatment, the doctor monitors the infant’s body condition, most closely related to the number of leukocytes. Usually, after treatment, there is a decrease in blood levels of leukocytes to reach the normal limit.
More about: Your Lab Test Results.
Although it has been done to lower leukocytes, the decline in the levels still takes a relatively long time, not immediately produce instant results.
