White Blood Cells are cells of the immune system that protect the body from pathogens and various foreign substances. There are several types of white blood cells, which can be commonly found throughout the body, including in the blood and lymphatic system. All of them develop from the bone marrow.
Normally, a person has a total white blood cell count of about 4,500-10,000 cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The number of white blood cells in the blood is often used as an indicator of diseases and various abnormalities, such as leukemia (white blood cell cancer), where patients have a higher than normal white blood cell count. Conversely, those with low white blood cell counts, meaning significantly below normal, have a higher risk of infection.
High White Blood Cell Count
High white blood cell count is a condition where the number of white blood cells in the blood is higher than normal. This condition may result from the body’s reaction to foreign substances, infections, various viruses, reactions to certain medications, and other causes.
High white blood cell count symptoms may resolve on their own, but if caused by health problems, the symptoms can be severe.
If the white blood cell count exceeds 100,000 cells per cubic millimeter of blood, it may cause the blood to become thick, impairing circulation to various organs. This can lead to those organs not functioning properly and increase the risk of heart and brain ischemia, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, if abnormal symptoms are noticed or worsen, one should promptly see a doctor, as this may indicate a serious illness requiring urgent treatment.
Diagnosis of High White Blood Cell Count
Generally, high white blood cell count does not present clear symptoms. Observable signs may include certain physical abnormalities that could signal diseases causing elevated white blood cell levels. Therefore, one should see a doctor if experiencing high fever, easy bleeding, unexplained bruising, unusual fatigue or weakness, dizziness, or fainting sensations, as these symptoms may indicate a serious underlying disease.
When a patient visits a doctor, the doctor will take a medical history regarding current symptoms and then draw blood from the arm or back of the hand to test in a laboratory using a white blood cell count method. If abnormal high white blood cell levels are found, the doctor will examine the types of white blood cells that are elevated. Since each type of white blood cell has different functions, this can help indicate different types of infections.
After an initial diagnosis, the doctor may order additional detailed tests, such as a bone marrow examination, to identify the cause of the elevated white blood cell count. Once confirmed, the doctor will plan further treatment.
Treatment of High White Blood Cell Count
In cases where the patient has a high white blood cell count but it is not caused by a dangerous condition, treatment to reduce the white blood cell count may not be necessary. However, if the white blood cell count is very high, the doctor will focus on treating the underlying cause of the increase. If the patient’s white blood cell count is critically high, the doctor may consider reducing the white blood cell count through plasma exchange, which is the fastest method to lower white blood cell levels. This is usually used when the white blood cell count is dangerously high. The plasma used in the exchange is obtained from donations and must be cross-matched between donor and recipient beforehand.
Low White Blood Cell Count
Low white blood cell count is a condition where the number of white blood cells in the blood is below normal, which can occur for various reasons. Low white blood cell count often does not show clear symptoms, but some patients may experience side effects from the reduced white blood cell count, especially those with low white blood cell count due to infection. Symptoms may include fever, chills, swelling and redness, mouth sores, red patches or white patches inside the mouth, sore throat, severe cough or shortness of breath, painful or burning urination, foul-smelling urine, diarrhea, and more.
Other symptoms may also appear as signs of associated diseases. Patients should monitor any abnormalities in their body. If symptoms worsen or do not improve, they should promptly see a doctor for their own safety.
Causes of Low White Blood Cell Count
Low white blood cell count can result from various causes, including abnormalities in the source of white blood cells, which is the bone marrow, congenital disorders, cancer, or destruction of white blood cells in large numbers due to viral infections. Severe infections cause white blood cells to work hard to fight pathogens, leading to a rapid decrease in their numbers. If you feel abnormal symptoms, you should see a doctor for a thorough examination. The doctor may perform a bone marrow biopsy to determine the cause of the low white blood cell count.
Treatment of Low White Blood Cell Count
If the low white blood cell count is not severe, it may resolve on its own without treatment. However, if symptoms are severe, urgent treatment according to the cause is necessary. Common treatments for patients with low white blood cell count include:
- Medication – The drug commonly used by doctors is Colony Stimulating Factor (CSF), which helps the bone marrow produce more blood cells, increasing white blood cell levels. It is often used in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Antibiotics – In cases where the white blood cell count is extremely low, antibiotics may be necessary because the patient is at high risk of infection. Additionally, antiviral or antimicrobial drugs may be used to prevent secondary infections.
For cancer patients undergoing treatment with low white blood cell counts, doctors may delay treatment or reduce the dosage of medications to allow white blood cell levels to return to normal as quickly as possible. This helps prevent worsening of the cancer or unwanted complications. During treatment, patients must take care of their health and protect themselves from infection risks, as infections during low white blood cell count periods can worsen symptoms.
