Is low white blood count serious?
Is low white blood count serious?
A low WBC count can be serious because it increases your risk of developing a potentially life-threatening infection. Seek prompt medical care if you have a low WBC count and have signs of an infection, such as a fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or skin lesions.
What happens when white blood cells are low?
White blood cells are produced by your bone marrow to help your body fight infection. If you have fewer than normal white blood cells, you have a higher risk of getting an infection. When you have a low white blood cell count, your immune system isn’t working as well as it should.
Should I be worried about low white blood cells?
A truly low white blood cell count also puts you at higher risk for infections — typically bacterial infections. But viral infections also may be a concern. To help reduce your infection risk, your doctor may suggest you wear a face mask and avoid anyone with a cold or other illness.
Can a low white blood cell count mean nothing?
For most people, a low white blood cell level does not indicate illness or disease, but rather that your immune system is functioning properly.
What disease causes low white blood cell count?
What causes a low white blood cell count?
- Cancer (caused by chemotherapy treatments)
- Bone marrow disorders or damage.
- Autoimmune disorders (problems with the immune system in which the body attacks itself), such as lupus.
- Infections (including tuberculosis and HIV)
- Immune system conditions.
- Crohn’s disease.
- Malnutrition.
What does low white blood cell count mean in adults?
A low white blood cell count in adults is less than 4,000 cells per microliter of blood. A low white blood cell count can be an indicator of certain conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin deficiencies, or a side effect of cancer treatment.
Can a vitamin D deficiency affect white blood cell count?
Vitamin D deficiency does not have significant effect on RBC count and indices, on WBC total and differential count, nor on BP and HR.
What vitamin deficiency can cause low white blood count?
White blood cells are an important part of your immune system, helping your body to fight off diseases and infections. If you have too few white blood cells, you have a condition known as leukopenia….Leukopenia can be caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies, such as deficiencies in:
- vitamin B-12.
- folate.
- copper.
- zinc.
Is it normal to have a low white blood cell count?
Low White Blood Cell Count Not Always a Sign of Medical Problem. Different laboratories classify low white blood cell counts differently. 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.
What can I do to increase my white blood cell count?
Ask if they recommend medication or dietary changes to increase your WBC count. If your low count is the result of a medical treatment, ask your treatment center’s dietitian to help you come up with a meal plan. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and drink lots of water.
What can cause a decrease in WBC count?
Medicines: Some drugs, including antibiotics, can destroy WBCs. Nutrition: Not eating well or low levels of certain vitamins, such as folic acid and B12, can affect how your body makes WBCs. Alcohol abuse can mess with the nutrients in your body and with WBC counts, too.
What does it mean to have a white blood cell count?
A white blood cell (WBC) count measures the amount of white blood cells in a sample of a person’s blood. The number of white blood cells in the body differs between individuals or at different ages in their lives.
What medications lower white blood cell count?
Tirgan Oncology Associates lists a number of common chemotherapeutic drugs that can lower white cell counts, including 5-FU, actionmycin D, daunorubicin, 6-MP, nitrogen mustard, and taxol.
What would cause low white blood count?
Medical conditions that can cause low white blood cell count are aplastic anemia and some autoimmune diseases that can destroy WBCs . Other causes include myelodysplastic syndrome, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and liver or spleen disorders.
What diseases have low white blood cells?
A low white blood cell ( WBC ) count, known as leukopenia, can be caused by diseases such as leukemia, cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and some medications, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What does a bad white blood cell count mean?
A low white blood cell count can indicate the presence of one or more serious health problems, such as leukemia, hyperthyroidism, aplastic anemia, or an infectious disease. An insufficient number of cells may also be a potentially dangerous side effect from taking certain medications, or receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments.