The child has elevated white blood cells

Content

The level of leukocytes, determined by clinical analysis of the blood of a child, shows the state of the immune system of children. Its increase, called leukocytosis, helps diagnose various diseases, so parents should know what problems with a child’s health can cause leukocytosis and what to do if a blood test of a daughter or son showed an overestimated number of white blood cells.

What level of white blood cells is considered elevated

Normally, the maximum level of leukocytes is observed in newborns, and then it gradually decreases. The upper limit of the normal rate at different ages is considered:

Have a newborn

30 x 109/ l

From the 5th day of life

15 x 109/ l

From the 10th day of life

14 x 109/ l

In infants older than 1 month

12 x 109/ l

From 1 year

11 x 109/ l

From the age of 5

10 x 109/ l

15 years old

9 x 109/ l

If the result on the child’s analysis form exceeds these figures, it is considered a leukocytosis. Such an increase is a reason for additional examination in order to identify the cause of a higher number of white bodies, as well as their ratio, called a leukocyte formula.

The highest white blood cell count is seen in newborn babies.

Causes of increased white blood cell count

White blood cells can be elevated both in diseases and in healthy children, which have been affected by certain factors. In most cases, an increase in leukocytes in the disease is due to activation of the child’s immune system, which often occurs with infections, autoimmune processes, injuries and other problems.
Dr. Yevgeny Komarovsky will tell you more about the causes of elevated levels of white blood cells in a baby:

Physiological leukocytosis

A non-dangerous increase in the number of white blood cells is observed:

  • After eating.
  • After exercise.
  • After crying or frightening a nursing baby.
  • After emotional overload.
  • After a hot bath.

If a child is affected by any of these factors, you do not need to do anything, since the leukocytes will return to normal on their own within a few hours. Their impact is important to consider when blood is taken for general analysis.

If the temperature of the water is too high during bathing, the increase of leukocytes in the baby’s blood is possible.

Diseases in which leukocytes are elevated

If the blood test was done according to the rules, a rise in white blood cells will indicate a pathological process in the child’s body. The indicator above the norm is typical for such pathologies:

  • Purulent infectionsFor example, meningitis, otitis, appendicitis, pyelonephritis, cholecystitis, pneumonia, and others. With abscesses or sepsis, the level of leukocytes increases several times.
  • Inflammatory diseases, for example, chronic intestinal inflammation or arthritis.
  • Poisoning spoiled food, heavy metals, drugs and other poisons.
  • Viral infectionsFor example, bronchitis, ARVI, rubella, hepatitis.
  • Allergic diseases.
  • Infection with fungi and protozoa.
  • Rheumatism.
  • Autoimmune diseases.
  • Burns
  • Injuries.
  • Blood lossas well as blood transfusions.
  • Oncological diseases.
  • Bone marrow affections.
  • Splenectomy.

Also, an increased level of leukocytes is detected in children who have had surgery. While the child is recovering, the leukocytes in his blood will be elevated.

Leukocyte changes

Doctors evaluate not only the total number of leukocytes and its increase, but also the ratio of different forms of white blood cells, since leukocytosis indicates an infection, but without an assessment of the leukocyte formula, it is impossible to understand what kind of infection in question. This is emphasized by the popular doctor Komarovsky.

For example, if eosinophils and leukocytes are elevated in a child (this analysis result is called eosinophilia), this will prompt the doctor to look for allergies and examine the baby for the presence of worms. In a situation where monocytes and leukocytes are elevated in a child (this is called monocytosis), mononucleosis must first be excluded.

The predominance of neutrophils, called neutrophilia, is more characteristic of infection by bacteria, and the identification of a greater number of lymphocytes, called lymphocytosis, is more common with viral infections.
The level of leukocytes determines the nature of the infectious disease in the baby.

The most common causes of increasing the number of individual forms of white blood cells are:

Neutrophilia

Bacterial infections

Inflammation of the internal organs

Oncopathology

Use of immunostimulating drugs

Graft

Blood loss

Monocytosis

Leukemia

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

Rheumatism

Infectious mononucleosis

Viral infections

Infection with parasites or protozoa

Tuberculosis

Lymphogranulomatosis

High basophils

Chickenpox

Allergic reaction

Hypothyroidism

Nephrosis

Ulcerative colitis

Chronic leukemia

Hormonal medication

Hodgkin's Disease

Anemia caused by hemolysis

Splenectomy

Eosinophilia

Allergic reaction

Parasite infestation

Scarlet fever

Rheumatism

Malaria

Leukemia

Mononucleosis

Recovery from bacterial infection

Lymphocytosis

Viral infections

Leukemia

Poisoning

Use of certain drugs

Symptoms

When a child's white blood cells are elevated, it often manifests itself:

  • Tiredness
  • Moderate or high body temperature.
  • Increased sweating.
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vertigo.
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Impaired vision.
  • Sore muscles and joints.
  • Weight loss
Drowsiness, high fever and poor appetite in a child should alert the parents

What to do

If the blood of a child is determined to have leukocytes above the norm, this does not go unnoticed by the doctor and requires a more detailed examination. especially if there are any complaints. By itself, leukocytosis is not a disease, but only acts as one of the signs that the baby’s body has an inflammatory process.

Having determined the cause of leukocytosis, the doctor will focus on treating the underlying disease, for example, a purulent infection or injury. As soon as the child recovers, the level of leukocytes will return to normal for his age indicators.

How to take a blood test so that the indicator is reliable

In order for the number of white blood cells to correspond to the real picture, the child should not eat food before taking the test. If we are talking about babies, then after feeding should be at least 2 hours. From drinks, the child should be given only drinking water, since it does not affect blood counts.

It is also important to eliminate physical exertion and experience.. If the analysis is done in the clinic, the child should go there in advance, giving the baby 10-15 minutes to rest in the corridor. Also, before taking blood, it is necessary to calm the child so that he does not fear manipulation, and this does not affect the level of leukocytes.

More information about the general analysis of blood, see the transfer of Dr. Komarovsky.

Information provided for reference purposes. Do not self-medicate. At the first symptoms of the disease, consult a doctor.

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