What Infections Cause High White Blood Cell Count – During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by up to 50%. With a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and hematocrit, the percentage of red cells in the blood (especially in the last trimester), the number of platelets also decreases slightly. However, white blood cells (WBC) in the blood increase after pregnancy, which is called leukocytosis.

Leukocytes or leukocytes are classified as agranulocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) and granulocytes (eosinophils, neutrophils and basophils), which make up the body’s immune system and fight infection (1).

What Infections Cause High White Blood Cell Count

Read this post to know the causes of high WBC count in pregnancy and the complications associated with this condition.

Leukocytes In Urine

After pregnancy, there is leukocytosis (leukocytosis), a gradual increase in the number of normal leukocytes, with a slight deviation towards an increased percentage of neutrophils.

Leukocytosis begins in the first trimester, continues throughout pregnancy, peaks at delivery, and usually normalizes after four weeks (1) (2).

XA A pregnancy condition characterized by high blood pressure, protein and water retention in the urine, and gestational diabetes mellitus

(GDM) (3) (4). Therefore, WBC counts must be correctly interpreted and correlated during your antenatal visits and postnatal care (1).

When To Worry About High Platelet Count

During pregnancy, white blood cells are often tested for signs of infection or inflammation in the body. WBC levels increase from eight to forty weeks gestation. As can be seen in the graph below, they peak around week 32 and begin to slope downward (12).

Even in a healthy pregnancy, it is normal for a woman’s WBC count to rise, especially towards the end of pregnancy. However, if this elevation is accompanied by any sign of infection or other medical condition, it will likely require further testing and evaluation.

Specific causes of elevated WBC count include bacterial or viral infections, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, certain medications (such as epinephrine

XA hormone, as well as the neurotransmitter responsible for the body’s fight and flight response or corticosteroids), severe allergic reactions and even severe stress. Any bacterial or viral infection in the body can cause an increase in the number of white blood cells.

Types Of White Blood Cells: What The Numbers May Mean

However, due to the physiological stress of pregnancy, you may have a higher white blood cell count even in a normal pregnancy. Thus, the maternal white blood cell count cannot be a primary screening technique to detect severe pregnancy complications (5). Conversely, an increased number of white blood cells in your urine sample indicates a urinary tract infection (UTI) (6).

XA The complex system of glands and organs that produce hormones, metabolic processes, and the reproductive system undergoes several changes to nourish the developing fetus and prepare the body for childbirth. As your pregnancy progresses, this physiological and emotional stress increases your white blood cell count as white blood cells receive stimulatory impulses (7).

In a healthy pregnancy, leukocytosis is generally referred to as an increased percentage of neutrophils in the blood. However, there are many types of WBCs, and elevated levels of other WBCs may imply a different diagnosis (1) (8).

An increase in the WBC count is mainly due to an increase in the number of neutrophils and lymphocytes (1).

High White Blood Cell Count Causes

Studies have shown that lymphocyte counts decrease in the first and second trimesters and increase in the third trimester (1).

Routine blood tests during pregnancy, such as a complete blood count (CBC) test, usually measure the number of white blood cells. Your doctor may perform diagnostic tests for hemoglobin, white blood cells, and platelet counts at almost every prenatal care visit to detect conditions that may complicate pregnancy (6).

An elevated white blood cell count may not show any symptoms during pregnancy. However, symptoms of a high WBC count in non-pregnant people usually include (9)

If you experience any of these symptoms during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider as they may be a sign of infection or underlying medical complications.

What Are The Symptoms Of High Lymphocytes?

Although leukocytosis is common during pregnancy, it can also be caused by an underlying problem that typical prenatal WBC count tests cannot detect, necessitating additional screening. Higher first-trimester platelet and leukocyte counts are associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, emphasizing the importance of monitoring these markers for potential pregnancy complications (5) (10).

A high white blood cell count during pregnancy, also known as leukocytosis, is caused by the physiological stress of pregnancy. A moderate increase in the number of leukocytes during pregnancy is normal. However, if the WBC count is abnormally elevated, it may indicate an underlying condition or infection (8).

Routine blood tests performed by health care providers during pregnancy help monitor potential abnormalities and ensure the well-being of both mother and baby. However, you can take general precautions such as good hygiene, staying hydrated, eating a well-balanced diet, and following religiously prescribed medications to minimize the risk of infections and inflammatory conditions (13).

Although there may be no symptoms of high white blood cell count during pregnancy, some women may experience a tendency to bleed easily, high fever, fatigue and weight loss. Additionally, an increase in white blood cell (WBC) count can occur during pregnancy, beginning in the first trimester. This is due to the sudden changes that occur in the body related to pregnancy. Although a slight increase in white blood cell count is to be expected during pregnancy, it can sometimes be a sign of infections, dehydration, or other medical problems. Therefore, it is ideal to seek medical attention if you have any atypical symptoms during pregnancy to avoid trouble that can affect the well-being of the mother.

Lymphocytosis (high Lymphocyte Count) Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

One of the hematologic parameters during pregnancy is an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count (leukocytosis), which is usually normal. However, some underlying problems can also increase the white blood cell count during pregnancy. The infographic below covers the effects of different white blood cell growth during pregnancy.

Learn about the symptoms of an elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and effective management techniques. Get the answers you need to stay healthy during pregnancy.

Its articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutes. Our references consist of resources created by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Dr. Miguel Racio Osorio started his career in 2004 and has 19 years of experience in various fields of gynecology. After two years of internship and social work, she decided to specialize in G&O. Since 2013, Dr. Razo has dedicated his training and practice to improving the obstetrical and gynecological health of his patients and has earned his diploma as a board certified specialist… more

Differential Blood Test: Uses, Procedure, And Results

Reshmi Das has four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. His continuing interest in medical journals and writing leads him to write well-researched articles. She writes health and wellness articles for children and pregnant and nursing women. Reshmi completed her postgraduate studies in biotechnology at MITS School of Biotechnology, …read more

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for publishing research-based and interesting content in the fields of fertility, pregnancy, birth and post-pregnancy. She graduated in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certificate in “Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy” from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). He was a health and … more

Anesha holds a BS in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and an MS in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, he worked on various research projects in the field of food sciences. Additionally, he has an internship experience with Oil India Limited as an R&D Project Trainee. As a writer, Aneesha provides…More The cells that reside in our lymphatic system and are responsible for our body’s immune regulation are called white blood cells.

White blood cells known as leukocytes are responsible for defending your body against infection. White blood cells circulate in your blood as part of your immune system and respond to injury or disease.

High White Blood Cells And Cancer

To protect against illness, white blood cells do their job. Your white blood cells function as a command center that directs the deployment of other white blood cells to the site of infection to fight the invading germ.

Your body’s white blood cells are the first line of defense against invaders because they secrete antibody proteins that bind to foreign organisms and eventually kill them.

White blood cells circulate throughout the body and can cross the walls of blood vessels and other tissues to reach the source of infection. In response to an infection, white blood cells in your body produce chemical signals that notify nearby white blood cells.

White blood cells, despite their name, are not actually colorless, but instead appear very pale purple to pink when stained and viewed under a microscope. These microscopic cells are usually spherical and have a membrane running down the middle (the nucleus).

Complete Blood Count

Individual white blood cells can only be seen using a microscope. Although most white blood cells are only 8 microns in size, they can be anywhere from 4 to 12 microns in size.

The rest of your blood contains only 1% white blood cells. The number of red blood cells in your body far exceeds the number of white blood cells in your body.

The soft tissue in your skeleton is where your

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