What Are High White Blood Cell Count – Medical Review by Suzanne Falk, MD, FACP – By Lori Smith, MSN, BSN, WHNP-BC – Updated January 26, 2024

White blood cells help fight infection and are essential for health and well-being. Changes in white blood cell levels can occur during infections, during pregnancy, and with some cancers.

What Are High White Blood Cell Count

A high white blood cell count may indicate that the immune system is working to destroy the infection.

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It can also be a sign of physical or emotional stress. People with certain blood cancers may also have high white blood cell counts.

A low white blood cell count may indicate that an injury or condition is destroying cells faster than the body is making them, or that the body is producing too few of them.

White blood cells make up about 1% of all blood cells, and are essential for regular function in the immune system. White blood cells are also known as leukocytes.

The bone marrow is constantly producing white blood cells. They are stored in the blood and lymphatic system until they are needed in the body to fight infection or disease.

What Does A High White Blood Cell Count Mean

Each microliter of blood normally contains between 4,500 and 11,000 white blood cells, although this can vary depending on gender, age, and race.

When needed, monocytes travel to other organs, such as the spleen, liver, lungs, and bone marrow, where they transform into cells called macrophages.

Macrophages are responsible for many functions, including removing dead or damaged tissue, destroying cancer cells, and regulating the immune response.

An increase in white blood cells is known as leukocytosis. It usually occurs in response to the following conditions:

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Some respiratory conditions, such as whooping cough or tuberculosis, can cause elevated white blood cell levels.

In some cases, all white blood cells are affected. However, some people have a specific disease in which only one type of white blood cell is affected.

If the level of a certain type of white blood cell increases, this may be due to a specific trigger:

Occasionally, there is no identifiable cause for an increase in white blood cells. This is known as idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. It can lead to serious complications, such as damage to the heart, lungs, liver, skin and nervous system.

Evaluation Of Patients With Leukocytosis

The level of white blood cells increases significantly during a healthy pregnancy because the body endures physical stress during this time. Levels begin to rise in the first trimester and continue to rise in the third trimester.

White blood cells per microliter of blood. This is in response to physical stress and labor trauma.

If the white blood cell level is lower than normal, this may be a sign that the person has a weakened immune system.

People with conditions or medications that suppress the immune system due to a deficiency of white blood cells are at increased risk of infection.

Leukocytosis (high White Blood Cell Count) > Clinical Keywords > Yale Medicine

This development occurs when too many immature blood cells are produced, leading to an imbalance. Myeloproliferative disorders are rare conditions that may or may not be fatal.

The exact effects of high white blood cell counts depend on the condition or factor causing them.

After noticing any symptoms, the doctor may use a blood test to evaluate the white blood cell count, and further tests and examinations will often be necessary to determine the exact cause of the problem.

Depending on the cause, the doctor may prescribe drugs such as hydroxyurea to quickly lower your white blood cell count. A person may need treatment for an underlying condition such as an infection or leukemia. For example, CML, a type of leukemia, may respond to prescription hydroxyurea to rapidly lower the white blood cell count.

High White Blood Cell Count: Meaning, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

A person has about 4,500-11,000 white blood cells in each microliter of blood, a white blood cell count that falls outside this range indicates that an underlying condition is causing the body to produce too many or too few white blood cells. . If a person’s doctor orders a white blood cell count, they can provide more information about what the test results mean.

Some conditions that cause high white blood cells can make a person feel tired. Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, where there is no identifiable cause for the high white blood cell count, can cause fatigue and other symptoms. Infections and leukemia can also make a person feel tired.

A high white blood cell count can indicate many things, such as the immune system working to fight off an infection, a sign of physical or emotional stress, or a specific type of cancer.

Pregnancy also leads to a higher white blood cell count, as levels rise from the first trimester to the third trimester. White blood cell levels also increase in the hours after delivery, due to severe stress on the body.

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Meanwhile, a low white blood cell count may indicate that an injury or condition is destroying cells faster than the body is making them. It can also mean that the body produces too little of it.

While symptoms will depend on the cause of the high white blood cell count, fluctuations in the white blood cell count may not cause any symptoms.

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and sources only peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using third party references. We link to primary sources including studies, scientific references and statistics within each article and list them in the Resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. A high white blood cell count in pregnancy is considered abnormal in a pregnant woman. A high WBC count in pregnancy indicates that there is an underlying infection in the body. It is clear that a woman’s body undergoes many changes during pregnancy, be it emotional, physical or even mental changes. A common change during this course of pregnancy that affects fear is a hematological change. These are obvious changes that are observed in hemoglobin, RBC, platelets and WBC.

Despite some of the above signs of having more white blood cells in the body during pregnancy, there have been cases in which some women do not show any signs. To know if you have a problem, it is always better to be cautious and have your blood count checked by a specialist to see what range you should be in. This raises the question: What is a normal pregnancy white blood cell count? Or what is a normal WBC count in pregnancy? In pregnant women, the average white blood cell count is 4,500 to 11,000/nm3. During pregnancy, the minimum amount to maintain is 6,000/nm3. During the 3rd trimester, a range of 12,000 – 18,000/nm3 is safe.

Definition Of White Blood Cell

Now that we know what WBC is, you must be wondering why the white blood cell count increases in pregnancy or what is the normal range of WBC in pregnancy. It is a known fact that pregnancy is unique from one woman to another. Although there is no clear reason for this, experts believe that the high WBC count in pregnancy is to keep the carrying mother healthy. However, here are some reasons why the white blood cell count increases during pregnancy.

We have seen what causes a high WBC count in pregnancy. What actually happens when a pregnant body sees an increase in WBC count? Can high white blood cell count affect pregnancy? Unless you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, a high WBC count in pregnancy means nothing. It just means that the body is coping and immunizing itself to accommodate the little bundle of joy growing inside you.

Several factors are considered to diagnose a high WBC count in a pregnant mother. These factors include:

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The initial step is to note any noticeable changes from normal. If you find yourself feeling anything out of the ordinary, see a specialist to check you out. Once you are examined, the doctor will advise how to proceed. If you have been diagnosed with a high WBC count; Your doctor may give you certain antibiotics to treat it. In most other cases, you may be asked to undergo another test or be referred to other specialists to determine and rule out the exact cause.

Pregnancy can be a rollercoaster ride. While some have an easier journey during this time, many face many changes within themselves. Your main focus should be on staying calm, as we have learned that stress can cause high white blood cell counts in pregnant women. That is why mothers are advised to be happy throughout this period. If you find anything out of the ordinary, don’t self-medicate or jump to your own conclusions. Self-medication can not only pose a danger to you, but you can also put your baby at risk. stay

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