Is it okay if the white blood cell count is high?

Many people find that there is an increase in white blood cells in their blood during physical examinations. This situation should not be taken lightly, because it may be caused by physiological reasons, such as strenuous exercise, exposure to extreme heat or cold, or pregnancy. It may also be caused by pathological reasons, such as tumors, bacterial infections, or blood diseases. For the latter, timely examination and treatment are necessary.

1. Physiological leukocytosis

1. The white blood cell count of the fetus and newborn is usually between 10.0 and 20.0 x 10^9/L.

2. When pregnant women are more than 5 months pregnant, the total white blood cell count can often reach 10.5x10^9/L or higher, and can reach 20.0x10^9/L in the later stage. The count may increase further due to labor pains and birth injuries, but if there are no complications, it will gradually return to normal about 2 weeks after delivery.

3. Intense exercise and labor can cause the white blood cell count to reach 12.0x10^9/L, or even above 20.0x10^9/L.

4. In cases of extreme heat or cold, the total white blood cell count often increases transiently and quickly returns to normal levels after rewarming.

2. Pathological leukocytosis

1. Allergic reactions, such as transfusion reactions, drug allergies, acute allergic diseases, etc.

2. Diseases caused by certain bacterial infections, especially local inflammation and systemic infection caused by pyogenic cocci, such as abscess, purulent meningitis, pneumonia, appendicitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, empyema, pyelitis, salpingitis, cholecystitis and sepsis, etc.

3. Diseases caused by certain viral infections, such as Japanese encephalitis, infectious mononucleosis, measles, etc.

4. Severe tissue damage or necrosis, such as after major surgery, burns, acute bleeding, severe trauma, vascular embolism, etc.

5. Poisoning reactions, such as various drug poisoning, pesticide poisoning, heavy metal poisoning, diabetic acidosis, pregnancy poisoning, etc.

6. Tumors and blood diseases, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, etc.

3. What happens if the white blood cell count is high?

Compared with physiological leukocytosis, pathological leukocytosis is more terrifying.

Pathological leukocytosis is common in acute bacterial infections, such as acute pyelonephritis, severe tissue damage, massive bleeding, poisoning and leukemia. These diseases seriously endanger the patient's health. If not treated in time, the disease will recur and may even be life-threatening.

In addition, leukopenia is also a problem that cannot be ignored. Leukopenia is common in chemotherapy and radiotherapy for tumors, aplastic anemia, long-term exposure to radiation, etc. Of course, the diagnosis of these diseases still requires further examination of the patients, especially patients with kidney disease need to undergo renal function tests to confirm the disease so as to achieve early detection and early treatment.