Can white blood cells be high without infection?
Can white blood cells be high without infection?
A: A high white blood cell count is not always infectious, though this is the most common reason. Several other conditions can lead to a higher-than-normal number of white blood cells. Stress reaction can cause a high count, and certain drugs, especially steroids, can lead to a higher number.
Does a high white blood cell count make you feel sick?
A high white blood cell count alone doesn’t cause any symptoms. The symptoms you feel may come from the medical problem that your white blood cells are fighting. For example, if you have pneumonia, you may have a fever and trouble breathing. These are symptoms of pneumonia, not of a high white blood cell count.
Can you have leukemia without symptoms?
What Are the Symptoms of Leukemia? Many types of leukemia produce no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Eventually, symptoms may include any of the following: Anemia and related symptoms, such as fatigue, pallor, and a general feeling of illness.
Can a low white blood cell count be a sign of a disease?
Because a low white blood cell count cannot, in and of itself, be used to diagnose a specific disease or disorder, you’ll likely need more testing to further assess your condition.
Can a high white blood cell count cause a fever?
4. WBC problems sometimes don’t have symptoms. If you’ve ever experienced a fever, congratulations. You know first-hand the type of symptom an elevated white blood cell count can cause as your immune system mounts a defense against a virus or some other threat.
When does your white blood cell count go down?
Before you can figure out what an elevated white blood cell count is, you need to know what a normal white blood cell count. The scale for a normal white blood cell count changes from birth to adolescence. As an infant, your white blood cell count tends to be higher, and the count steadily decreases to the age of 16.
Is it good to have a high white blood cell count?
Medications that may alter the results of a white blood cell count include: Note, this does not mean you should stop taking these prescriptions unless your doctor gives you specific instructions to do so. Since white blood cells help fight disease, viruses, and infections, you may assume that an elevated white blood cell count is a good thing.
Because a low white blood cell count cannot, in and of itself, be used to diagnose a specific disease or disorder, you’ll likely need more testing to further assess your condition.
What happens if your white blood cell count is high?
not necessarily, just because your white blood cell count is elevated does not mean the doctor will consider the diagnosis of lymphocytic leukemia. There could be other things going on in your body that sometimes cause your white blood cell count to be elevated.
Before you can figure out what an elevated white blood cell count is, you need to know what a normal white blood cell count. The scale for a normal white blood cell count changes from birth to adolescence. As an infant, your white blood cell count tends to be higher, and the count steadily decreases to the age of 16.
What should my white blood cell count be?
Generally, a count lower than 3,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood is considered a low white blood cell count. But ask your doctor what the normal range is for the laboratory he or she uses. It may also be helpful to discuss exactly how far outside that range your number falls.