Leukocytosis
High levels of leukocytes or leukocytosis are medical conditions in which a person has too many white blood cells. Leukocytosis can be caused by various factors, such as inflammation, infection, allergies and blood cancer.
Leukocytes or white blood cells play a role in protecting against infections and diseases. When the body is attacked by a disease, leukocytes will increase in response to the disease. A high leukocyte level can indicate that something is abnormal in a person's body.
Leukocytosis can be treated with several treatment methods, depending on the cause. Examples are the use of antibiotics to treat infections, chemotherapy and radiation for blood cancer, or antihistamines for allergies.
Normal number of leukocytes
Leukocytosis occurs when the number of white blood cells in the body is higher than normal. Normal white blood cell count varies with age. Following are the normal white blood cell counts per microliter of blood (blood cells / μL) by age group:
Normal leukocyte count is a combination of various types of leukocytes, namely neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes.
Symptoms of leukocytosis
Symptoms of leukocytosis appear in different people, depending on the cause. But in general, increased leukocytes are characterized by the following symptoms:
If you experience the symptoms above, get medical help immediately so that additional tests can be done. Leukocytosis is known when doctors conduct laboratory tests on patients. In addition to blood tests, the doctor will conduct further investigations to determine the cause of the symptoms.
Under certain conditions, such as leukemia, severe infections, rejection of transplanted organs, sepsis or tumors, leukocytes may rise too high to exceed 100,000 cells per microliter. This condition can interfere with blood flow, or is called leukostasis (hyperviscosity syndrome).
Hyperviscosity syndrome is rare, but it is an emergency and must be treated immediately by a doctor. Immediately to the emergency room if you suffer from this condition and the following symptoms of leukostasis appear:
Causes of leukocytosis
In general, leukocytosis is caused by the following factors:
Here are some examples of conditions or diseases that cause leukocytes:
To diagnose leukocytosis, the doctor will ask for some details about the patient's symptoms, medical history, the type of medication used, and whether the patient has an allergy or not. After that, the doctor will do a physical examination to check for abnormalities in the patient's body.
The doctor will also take a patient's blood sample to be analyzed according to the complete blood count method, to find out the number and type of white blood cells. Blood samples will also be examined on a blood smear (peripheral blood smear) to determine the type of dominant white blood cell.
Doctors can also conduct further investigations if it is believed that the cause of leukocytosis in patients is still unclear. Investigations that can be carried out by patients include:
Sputum examination or chest x-ray to determine whether there is an infection that causes high white blood cell counts.
Bone marrow aspiration, to determine whether abnormalities occur in the bone marrow, such as in patients with leukemia.
Genetic examination, to determine whether leukocytosis is caused by genetic changes.
Leukocytosis treatment
Treatment to reduce the number of white blood cells depends on the cause. Some examples of leukocytosis treatments are:
Complications of leukocytosis
Complications of leukocytosis are leukostasis or blood hyperviscosity syndrome. Leukostasis occurs when the number of white blood cells exceeds 100,000 cells / μL of blood. This condition can cause blood flow disorders, even strokes.
In patients with blood hyperviscosity syndrome, the doctor will carry out leukapheresis to reduce the number of white blood cells. This procedure is carried out with a special device that separates white blood cells from other blood cells, which are then removed from the body.
Prevention of leukocytosis
Prevention of leukocytosis depends on the cause. These preventive measures include:
Leukocytes or white blood cells play a role in protecting against infections and diseases. When the body is attacked by a disease, leukocytes will increase in response to the disease. A high leukocyte level can indicate that something is abnormal in a person's body.
Normal number of leukocytes
Leukocytosis occurs when the number of white blood cells in the body is higher than normal. Normal white blood cell count varies with age. Following are the normal white blood cell counts per microliter of blood (blood cells / μL) by age group:
- Newborns: 9,400 to 34,000
- Infants (3-5 years old): 4,000 - 12,000
- Teenagers (12-15 years): 3,500 - 9,000
- Adult (15 years and over): 3,500 - 10,500
Normal leukocyte count is a combination of various types of leukocytes, namely neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes.
Symptoms of leukocytosis
Symptoms of leukocytosis appear in different people, depending on the cause. But in general, increased leukocytes are characterized by the following symptoms:
- fever
- The body is tired and tired
- Night sweats
- It's easier to feel bruises and bleeding
- Drastic weight loss
- Itching and rashes appear
- hard to breathe
If you experience the symptoms above, get medical help immediately so that additional tests can be done. Leukocytosis is known when doctors conduct laboratory tests on patients. In addition to blood tests, the doctor will conduct further investigations to determine the cause of the symptoms.
Under certain conditions, such as leukemia, severe infections, rejection of transplanted organs, sepsis or tumors, leukocytes may rise too high to exceed 100,000 cells per microliter. This condition can interfere with blood flow, or is called leukostasis (hyperviscosity syndrome).
Hyperviscosity syndrome is rare, but it is an emergency and must be treated immediately by a doctor. Immediately to the emergency room if you suffer from this condition and the following symptoms of leukostasis appear:
- Vision loss
- Bleeding in the mouth, stomach and intestines.
- Stroke symptoms.
- Hard to breathe.
Causes of leukocytosis
In general, leukocytosis is caused by the following factors:
- Drug reactions increase the production of white blood cells.
- Increased production of white blood cells to fight infection.
- Immune system disorders that increase the production of white blood cells.
- White blood cell production is not normal because of bone marrow disorders.
Here are some examples of conditions or diseases that cause leukocytes:
- Smoking habit.
- Stress
- Allergies, especially severe allergies.
- Bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis and pertussis (whooping cough).
- Some drugs, such as corticosteroids and epinephrine.
- Rheumatoid arthritis,
- Has been operated on to remove the spleen (splenectomy).
- Polycythemia vera.
- Leukemia.
To diagnose leukocytosis, the doctor will ask for some details about the patient's symptoms, medical history, the type of medication used, and whether the patient has an allergy or not. After that, the doctor will do a physical examination to check for abnormalities in the patient's body.
The doctor will also take a patient's blood sample to be analyzed according to the complete blood count method, to find out the number and type of white blood cells. Blood samples will also be examined on a blood smear (peripheral blood smear) to determine the type of dominant white blood cell.
Doctors can also conduct further investigations if it is believed that the cause of leukocytosis in patients is still unclear. Investigations that can be carried out by patients include:
Sputum examination or chest x-ray to determine whether there is an infection that causes high white blood cell counts.
Bone marrow aspiration, to determine whether abnormalities occur in the bone marrow, such as in patients with leukemia.
Genetic examination, to determine whether leukocytosis is caused by genetic changes.
Leukocytosis treatment
Treatment to reduce the number of white blood cells depends on the cause. Some examples of leukocytosis treatments are:
- Antibiotic medication, if leukocytosis is caused by a bacterial infection.
- Antihistamines, if leukocytosis is caused by an allergic reaction.
- Discontinue treatment or change medication, if leukocytosis is caused by side effects of the drug.
- Anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory), if leukocytosis is caused by inflammation.
- Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, if leukocytosis is caused by leukemia.
Complications of leukocytosis
Complications of leukocytosis are leukostasis or blood hyperviscosity syndrome. Leukostasis occurs when the number of white blood cells exceeds 100,000 cells / μL of blood. This condition can cause blood flow disorders, even strokes.
In patients with blood hyperviscosity syndrome, the doctor will carry out leukapheresis to reduce the number of white blood cells. This procedure is carried out with a special device that separates white blood cells from other blood cells, which are then removed from the body.
Prevention of leukocytosis
Prevention of leukocytosis depends on the cause. These preventive measures include:
- Avoid allergy triggers.
- Quit smoking.
- Apply a clean and healthy lifestyle to prevent infection.
- Do not take drugs without precautions, especially drugs for inflammation. Take medicine according to doctor's instructions.
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