White Blood Cells: The Key to Body Fighting Infection

In the human body, white blood cells play a role in fighting various infections from fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other causes of disease . The low number of white blood cells makes the body vulnerable to infection. Conversely, high levels of white blood cells can be a sign the body is fighting disease.

  Levels of white blood cells generally will be examined when someone experiences a complaint that is suspected is a sign of infection. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms, causes, and consequences that can arise due to abnormal white blood cell counts.

Also Read : High Leukocytes: Causes and Symptoms

When the body experiences white blood cell deficiency

The level of white blood cells in the human body can indeed vary from one another. However, there is a minimum limit on the number of white blood cells that need to be in a healthy human body, which is 4,000 per microliter of blood. Meanwhile, the minimum limit on children varies by gender and age. Low levels of white blood cells or leukocytes in the blood are called leukopenia.

What causes low levels of white blood cells? Below are some conditions behind the lack of white blood cells:

• Viral infections, congenital abnormalities, cancer, or diseases that affect bone marrow function.
• Medications that affect the bone marrow or cause damage to white blood cells.
• Severe infections that cause white blood cells to run out are faster than the speed of production.
• Lack of intake of vitamin B12 or folic acid can affect white blood cell production.

Some special conditions can cause low white blood cell counts, namely HIV / AIDS, chemotherapy, myelodysplasia syndrome , lupus, aplastic anemia , or blood cancer (leukemia) . In addition, white blood cell counts can also be affected by certain drugs such as antibiotics and diuretic drugs, spleen function disorders, Kostmann's syndrome, parasitic diseases, radiation therapy, immune system disorders, and vitamin deficiencies.

It is important to make an effort to prevent infection if a person's white blood cells are low. Here are ways you can do to prevent infection:

• Apply a healthy diet.
• Wash hands before and after meals with warm water and soap.
• Be careful when touching pets or other animals that might be infected.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Wear a protective mask.

When White Blood Cells Are Too High

High levels of white blood cells are referred to as leukocytosis. Although maximum normal levels vary, but generally this normal level is not more than 11,000 leukocytes in every microliter of blood in adults.
High levels of white blood cells can be caused by the following:

• Infection.
• Not normal white blood cell production due to disease in the bone marrow.
• Immune system disorders.
• Reaction to certain drugs.

Some special conditions that cause levels of white blood cells to become high include undergoing treatment such as epinephrine, suffering from bacterial or viral infections, severe allergic reactions, cancer of the blood (leukemia), polycythemia vera , tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis , whooping cough, smoking, and stress .

The number of white blood cells can only be known through a blood test . To avoid adverse conditions due to abnormal white blood cell levels, immediately consult a doctor if you experience suspicious symptoms, such as high fever for more than 3 days, chills, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea that does not subside.

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