Leukocytes comprise numerous diverse group of blood cells produced in the bone marrow. It consists of neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. The main objective of the white blood cells - the body's defense against foreign and pathogenic agents. When the white blood cell count dropped, doctors diagnose leukopenia. Every person is useful to know that this disease, which causes its cause, for whatever symptoms we can determine the low white blood cells, in what ways to prevent and cure the deviation from the norm.
Why level drops
Possible reasons for reducing the number of white blood cells can be divided into several groups.
Bone marrow disease
The most dangerous cause of low leukocyte is the inability of the bone marrow to produce, i.e. create new cells. Distortion leukocyte blood is the result of:
- autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus);
- malignancies;
- precancer (myelofibrosis, mielosarkomy);
- germination metastases in bone marrow and tissue replacement leukopoietic tumor cells;
- suffering radiation exposure;
- radiotherapy or chemotherapy for cancer.
Keep in mind that the absence or reduced amount of leukocyte cells in the bloodstream that occurs due to bone marrow dysfunction is rare. Therefore, when a small deviation from the norm is no reason to panic. To rule out the presence of dangerous pathologies enough to consult a doctor and get tested if necessary.
Intoxication
A reduced number of white blood cells often suggests a possible intoxication - poisoning toxins in different categories. Among the factors provocateurs leukopenia adults physicians include:
- abuse of spirituous beverages;
- reception of narcotics and drugs poisons;
- smoking;
- contact with household insecticides;
- food poisoning, which were prepared without observing technology or stored with the violation temperature;
- toxicity of arsenic, compounds of heavy metals, mercury vapor, benzene, toluene and other harmful substances.
Toxic compounds can long be ingested from food, water or air and gradually poisoning organism. White blood cells rushing to fight against pathogenic agents, will die en masse, and the number of white blood cells - to decline.
Diseases of internal organs and systems
No less important factors in the result of which can be lowered white blood cells are viral and bacterial infections:
- flu;
- SARS;
- pneumonia;
- measles;
- malaria;
- hepatitis;
- typhoid fever;
- sepsis;
- tuberculosis.
leukocytes are often reduced in patients suffering from diseases of the endocrine and digestive systems:
- thyrotoxicosis;
- hyperthyroidism;
- Basedow's disease;
- acromegaly;
- Cushing's syndrome;
- gastritis;
- colitis;
- cholecystitis;
- peptic ulcer disease.
The level of leukocyte cells also decreases in HIV infections, allergic conditions and anemia caused by deficiency of folic acid and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a reduced content of all types of white blood cells often indicates the presence of anemia. In 90% of cases of leukopenia, revealed during carrying a child, the cause is iron deficiency anemia. It is characterized by a sharp decline in the number of red blood cells and a decrease in hemoglobin level. This phenomenon is harmless easily adjusted special diet and intake of iron-containing preparations.
Lactation
The reason for reducing leukocytes during breastfeeding often becomes cachexia. The body lacks nutrients that are "building blocks" for the synthesis of a sufficient number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils and monocytes. For minor deviations from the norm WBC restored to optimum performance in 2-4 month after GW.
Lack of substance
If reduced leukocytes, the most common cause of this phenomenon may be a shortage of nutrients required for the synthesis of white and red cells. This means that the body is deficient of certain vitamins and trace elements:
- ascorbic acid;
- folic acid;
- arachidonic acid;
- thiamine;
- riboflavin;
- gland;
- copper;
- manganese;
- Selena;
- zinc;
- iodine.
To make up for the lack of nutrients necessary to supplement the diet products are leaders on the content of the listed substances. You also need to consume more protein foods, giving up high-calorie, fatty, fried and high carbohydrate foods.
If not enough white blood cells, and power adjustment does not give the desired effect in the blood, should have recourse to multivitamin complexes - they provide the body with essential nutrients and accelerate the synthesis of white blood cells.
Taking medicines
If the white blood cell count less than normal, the cause of the deviation can be long-term use of drugs. Those at risk include:
- analgesics;
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs);
- drugs from the group of sulphonamides;
- barbiturates;
- anticonvulsant and antiepileptic drugs;
- broad-spectrum antibiotics;
- antidepressants;
- antihistamine (antiallergics) means;
- anticancer drugs;
- tireostatiki;
- Antiviral tablets;
- drugs with interferon;
- steroids;
- drugs for chemotherapy.
An extensive list of medicines that lower the amount of leukocyte cells, means that any therapy should be prescribed by a doctor. As a result of self-treatment of even the most harmless at first glance, diseases, decreased number of white blood cells, which leads to adverse consequences.
varieties disease
Pathology, in which the white blood cells found in the blood decreased, classified according to the nature of the flow, appearance and severity of the time.
The acute form lasts up to 3 months from the time of occurrence, and then proceeds into a chronic stage.
By the time of occurrence of leucopenia is most often purchased, but in some cases may be congenital (1 case per 300 thousand. person).
The degree of severity of the disease in the male and female population is determined by the number of white blood cells:
| Severity leucopenia | The lower limit (109 * U / L) | The upper limit (109 * U / L) |
| easy | 1 | 1,5 |
| Central | 0,5 | 1 |
| Weight | less than 0.5 | — |
When white blood cells dropped to 0.5 * 109 U / L, the direct threat to health yet. If the indicators have fallen below that level, doctors say about severe leukopenia, which may go in agranulocytosis which in the absence or unprofessional treatment can lead to a lethal outcome.
How to identify deviation
Reduced leukocyte define two ways - by characteristic symptoms and general blood analysis.
Signs and symptoms
The low white blood cell count can not guess, until the disease is mild. But if the process becomes chronic, then to reduce the number of white blood cells can indicate the following features:
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss;
- weakness, lethargy, fatigue;
- hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating under comfortable temperature conditions);
- increase in body temperature up to +37... + 38 ° C, accompanied by chills;
- chest pain, or joint pain;
- rapid pulse and heartbeat (90 beats per minute and over);
- headache;
- dizziness;
- causeless anxiety;
- the appearance of pustules on the face, torso and limbs;
- hoarseness;
- bleeding gums;
- Swollen lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen or liver projection;
- frequent colds.
These symptoms may be accompanied by not only a reduction in white blood cell count, but also other diseases. Therefore, for correct diagnosis should go to the clinic and to pass the necessary tests.
Analysis
For the diagnosis of leukopenia physicians first recommend to hand over complete blood count with detailed decoding of all the indicators. This method of diagnosis of leukocyte is more reliable and robust.
additional manipulations may be assigned as necessary:
- Ultrasonography of the peritoneum;
- serological and biochemical blood analysis;
- sampling cerebrospinal fluid (puncture, trephine biopsy);
- detection of blast cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood;
- Liver tests for bilirubin, transaminases, viral hepatitis markers.
Feasibility and procedure of those or other tests determined by a physician.
Norms and deviations
Normal total number of white blood cells per unit 1 depends on the age and sex of the patient. Therefore, the performance of women, men, young children and adolescents to be materially different.
for an adult
Norma white blood cell count in men and women older than 16 years is almost the same and within the range of 4.0-4.5 to 9,0-11,0 (* 109 U / L). For persons over 60 years of lower white blood cell count in men and women shall not be considered an aberration, if its rate varies from 3.1-3.9 to 7.5-9.0 (* 109 U / L).
If leukocyte cells dropped from an adult or a child, you should not self-medicate. Diseases that are reducing factors may be hazardous to health and life of the patient. Therefore, it is important to pass a comprehensive examination to rule out cancer, HIV, hepatitis and other severe pathologies.
For a child
Normal leukocytes figures for children are presented in the table below:
| Age | The lower limit (109 * U / L) | The upper limit (109 * U / L) |
| 1-3 days after birth | 10 | 32 |
| 1-12 months | 6,6 | 17,5 |
| 1-2 years | 6 | 17 |
| 2-6 years | 5 | 14,5 |
| 6-16 years | 4,5 | 12,5 |
The number of leukocyte cells in the blood below normal may be a cold or any infectious disease. When the total falls below a maximum permissible level, it is necessary to make a detailed analysis of blood leukocyte detailed decoding, since drop monocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils and eosinophils can indicate various inflammatory, immune or autoimmune processes in the body child.
How to raise them
Increase the white blood cells can be reduced in several ways, but only a doctor is able to prescribe the effective therapeutic regimen. Treatment should include medication intake, adjusting diet and lifestyle.
medication
Treatment of low level of white blood cells in many cases impossible without the prescription of drugs that stimulate the production of white blood cells. Among the popular stimulant leykopoeza - making process of white blood cells - are:
- leucogen;
- Methyluracilum;
- Tevagrastim;
- Neypomaks;
- Sodium nukleinat;
- leucite;
- ZARS;
- filgrastim;
- sargramostim;
- Lenograstim.
In drug therapy reduced the number of leukocytes and physicians use auxiliary agents:
- means for immunity (tincture ginseng, Eleutherococcus, Echinacea);
- immunomodulators and immunostimulators (Immunal, Estifan, Galavit);
- vitamin-mineral complexes containing in its composition thiamine (vitamin V₁), pyridoxine (vitamin V₆) and folic acid;
- steroids;
- antihistamine (antiallergics) means;
- broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Scheme of treatment, method of administration and the duration of taking the drugs must be agreed with the doctor. Self-nomination even the most innocuous of drugs can lead to tragic consequences.
Yourself through diet
To underestimate leukocytes indicators lead to normal, you need to reconsider eating habits - and eliminate high-calorie carbohydrate food menu to complement the protein products, berries, fruit, citrus, vegetables with a high content fiber.
Doctors recommend daily use products that increase the concentration of white blood cells:
- legumes (beans, peas, lentils);
- oatmeal;
- from whole cereal grains;
- beets;
- celery;
- pumpkin;
- garlic;
- spinach;
- liver;
- nuts;
- milk and milk products;
- chicken eggs;
- turkey and rabbit meat;
- river and sea fish.
Animal fats should be replaced with sunflower, corn or olive oil, soups need to cook the fish, meat or vegetable broth. To the body not experiencing hunger, it is desirable to feed a fractional dividing the daily amount of food in the 5-6 receptions. It should be remembered that any long-term starvation and mono-diet can provoke a persistent drop in blood leukocytes.
Right Livelihood
To raise the concentration of white blood cells is possible only through an integrated approach, so the decrease in white blood cells important to maintain a healthy lifestyle:
- renounce the use of alcohol, tobacco, narcotic drugs;
- stay cool and do not become too cold;
- Avoid intense exercise;
- to minimize contact with people who are sick with influenza, SARS, chicken pox, measles and other infectious diseases;
- fully fed;
- daily walk in the fresh air;
- avoid large gatherings of people, when visiting crowded places to wear a medical multilayer mask.
These easily workable measures will help to prevent the weakening of the immune system and the development of dangerous bacterial, viral and fungal infections, which against the backdrop of low blood leukocytes can lead to irreversible consequences.
The more dangerous the disease
Insufficient number of white corpuscles makes the body defenseless against any infection, which can lead to serious complications. The most dangerous consequence of running leukopenia may result in death of the patient.
lowering of white blood cells often occurs without any symptoms, so a person is unaware of the disease. In such cases, you can only detect a drop after the results of clinical tests. Seeing the reduction of the population of white cells need time to respond to the body's signal for the presence of inflammation, otherwise the disease will pass into a chronic form.
prevention
If the value of white blood cells is reduced, but it does not fall below the maximum permissible level, to avoid the development of leukopenia help expert advice:
- unless absolutely necessary not to use hormonal contraceptives and steroids;
- sleep at least 7-9 hours a day;
- to fully relax after a heavy physical and mental stress;
- normalize the diet;
- receive periodic inspection, expanded to donate blood for analysis and determination of the leukocyte formula.
These recommendations useful to carry out not only to those who have white blood cell count is below normal, but and all healthy people, because any disease is easier to prevent or cure in the early stages of development.
