An increase in white blood cells in the blood( leukocytes) is called leukocytosis. Leukocytes are an important component of the human immune system, as they protect the body from various "enemies" and do not allow that some harmful cells multiply.
Why does the analysis sometimes show elevated white blood cells in the blood? What does this mean, and what are the causes of this condition? Let's try to understand.
Why do you need leukocytes?
The main tasks of white blood cells can be described as follows:
- Enter the gastrointestinal tract, seize nutrients and carry them to the blood of , which is especially important for newborns who, while being breastfed, along with milk, receive ready-made unmodified immunoglobulinsmothers, able to protect against many small person infections.
- Leukocytes are involved in the formation of cellular and humoral immunity , which is their protective function.
- Destroy various bookmarks, which are not needed at all, even in the embryonic period - the morphogenetic function.
- Dissolve damaged tissue and perform a histolytic task.
An in-depth blood test involves counting not only the total number of white blood cells, but also the percentage in the smear of all types of white blood cells.
Norm of leukocytes in the blood
Blood test for leukocytes is performed for the diagnosis of all possible conditions of the body. The norm of leukocytes in an adult is 4-8.8 x 109 / l.
In the blood of a child, white blood cells are always significantly elevated. Normally, leukocytes in the blood of newborns are contained in an amount of 9.2-13.8 x 109 / l. Leukocytes in children, the norm from year to three years - 6-17 x 109 / liter. Leukocytes in the blood of a child under the age of 10 are normal - 6.1-11.4 x 109 / l.
In pregnancy, as a rule, the level of leukocytes in the blood is elevated, closer to childbirth this level is generally considered the norm - the more the load, the higher it is.
When the increase in white blood cells can be considered the norm
During the day, the number of leukocytes in the blood changes. In some cases, it may even exceed the norm, but there is no point in worrying about it.
Such a leukocytosis is called physiological and its causes can be:
- Smoking.
- Stresses, serious emotional experiences.
- Food Diet. Some products can affect leukocytes.
- In the second half of the pregnancy, the increase in leukocytes in the blood is also the norm.
- Sport and physical activity always lead to fluctuations in the level of leukocytes in the blood.
- Stay in hot air. This can be excessive sunbathing or working environment, for example, in certain production workshops. One can also mention visiting a sauna and a sauna.
To exclude the influence of all these factors, the blood test is delivered in a calm state in the morning and on an empty stomach. And if your analysis shows a high value, then we are talking about pathological leukocytosis, that is, associated with the course of a disease.
Elevated white blood cells in the blood: the causes of
Why does an adult have leukocytes in his blood, and what does it mean? Pathological leukocytosis indicates the presence of health problems. So, elevated leukocytes in the blood appear in consequence:
- Any infectious diseases: bronchitis, pneumonia, SARS, etc.
- Autoimmune diseases, a typical manifestation of which is the recognition by the immune system of their own tissues, as foreign, and the formation of the body's response.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases, localized in any organ, also give leukocytosis, although not as pronounced, because the body is getting used to it and struggling less actively.
- Acute bacterial infections: cholecystitis, appendicitis, pyelonephritis. As a rule, in this case, the increase occurs due to an increase in neutrophils.
- Allergy - an inadequate response of the immune system, accompanied by the synthesis of an increased number of leukocytes and immunoglobulins.
- When infected with viruses( rubella, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, HIV).
- Elevated levels of white blood cells can be observed with strong pain and emotional effects, because white blood cells will not remain indifferent to pain, severe physical and psychoemotional stress. Purulent infections( peritonitis, abscesses) or sepsis can cause a very high level of leukocytes( up to 50x109 / L).
- Oncological processes in various organs and tissues are also often accompanied by a significant increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood.
- Extensive burns and frostbite, in which the skin is not capable of retaining a barrier function.
- In various types of parasitosis, an increase in eosinophils is observed in the blood( one of the leukocyte species).
The degree of increase in leukocytes reflects the severity of the disease and depends on the age. The rule of treating leukocytosis is one - to establish the cause of the increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood and to eliminate it.
What are the symptoms?
This condition is often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- malaise, fatigue;
- moderate and high hyperthermia;
- decreased vision, sleep disturbance;
- weight loss and joint and muscle pain;
- excessive sweating, dizziness, loss of appetite.
Sometimes leukocytosis can be detected only with the next general analysis of blood. There are a number of poorly studied human states in which ESR, white blood cells, and temperature can increase. As a rule, time passes, and all the indicators come back to normal. There are no manifestations of these deviations from the norm.
How to lower the level of leukocytes in the blood
The procedure for treating leukocytosis is established by the doctor after additional examinations. Therapy, first of all, is aimed at eliminating the factors that provoked an increase in the level of leukocytes. A separate treatment to reduce the level of leukocytes in the blood is not provided.
If the increased number of leukocytes in the blood is caused by physiological causes( malnutrition, pregnancy, overexertion), then in order to reduce it, you must change your lifestyle:
- eat right.
- more rest.
- to avoid hypothermia or overheating on the background of reduced immunity.
In case of detection of leukocytosis, in no case should self-medication be performed. This infringement can have time character or testify about serious diseases which demand medical intervention, and only the expert is capable to find out, why the quantity of leukocytes grows and how with it to struggle.