An increase in monocytes in the blood of a child in most cases indicates an unhe althy baby. Monocytic cells destroy foreign proteins that enter the body. According to their indicator, the doctor can judge how actively the immune system resists the pathogen. What diseases does an increase in monocytes indicate? And how to reduce their level? We will consider these issues in the article.
Monocytes and their functions
The composition of the blood includes white cells - leukocytes. They are involved in the work of the immune system. There are several types of white blood cells, and one of them is monocytes, which are produced in the bone marrow.
What role do monocytes play in the functioning of the immune system? These cells are otherwise called "orderlies", or "janitors" of the body. They absorb and digest disease-causing microbes. This process is called phagocytosis.
Monocytes not only fight microbes, but also neutralize parasites, destroy elements of tumors and remove dead cells from the body. This type of white blood cell is essential for cleansing and renewing the blood.
What do monocytes in the blood say? If the level of these elements is elevated, then this is a sign of the active activity of the immune system. This means that a foreign protein has appeared in the body: a microorganism, a parasite, an allergen, or a tumor cell. To destroy the "stranger", the bone marrow has to produce an increased amount of monocytes.
What test should I take
How to find out the monocyte count in the blood of a child? To do this, you need to pass a general clinical test. However, some types of this study show the total number of all types of white cells. Such an analysis is not very informative.
Therefore, in the direction for the study, it should be indicated that it is necessary to calculate the leukocyte formula. Such an analysis is also called a leukogram. The decoding of this test indicates the percentage or quantitative content of each type of leukocyte. Today, children's clinics most often do just such a detailed analysis.
Indications for the test
When are monocytes tested in children? A general blood test is often done during a routine medical examination. It is often prescribed for preventive purposes in order to reveal hidden pathologies in time.
If the child has signs of illness, then this is an absoluteindication for a clinical blood test. Doctors order this diagnostic test if you have the following symptoms:
- fever;
- weakness and fatigue;
- abdominal pain;
- frequent diarrhea;
- runny nose;
- swelling of lymph nodes;
- cough.
All this may indicate an infectious or inflammatory process in the body.
Preparation for examination
Increased monocytes in the blood of a child can be determined with improper preparation for analysis. Their level can be affected by various random circumstances. To ensure accurate test results, doctors advise following these guidelines:
- Blood must be taken strictly on an empty stomach. Eating before the test can distort monocyte counts. If the study is scheduled for a baby, then the baby can be fed no later than 2 hours before the analysis.
- The day before the examination, the child must be protected from stress. It is necessary to exclude excessive physical activity and outdoor games.
- The day before the test, the child should not be fed fatty foods.
- If the baby has to constantly take medication, then this should be told to the doctor. Some medicines affect test results.
How analysis is done
Biomaterial for analysis is taken from a finger, less often from a vein. In infants, blood is taken from the heel. The sample is then sent to the laboratory. Usually the results are ready the next day. The decoding will indicate the indicators of each type of leukocytes and othershematological parameters.
Acceptable values
In the study, the relative concentration of monocytes is often determined. In the transcript of a child's blood test, the level of these cells is indicated as a percentage of the total number of all types of leukocytes. Valid values depend on the age of the patient:
- The norm for a child up to a year is from 3-4 to 10-12%.
- For children from 1 to 15 years, values from 3 to 9% are allowed.
- For teenagers over 15 years of age, the norms are the same as for adults - from 1 to 8%.
In some cases, it is necessary to determine the exact number of cells in a liter of blood. This indicator is called the absolute number of monocytes. Its norms also depend on the age of the child:
| Age in years | Number of cells (x109/litre) |
| 0 -1 | 0, 05-1 |
| 1-2 | 0, 05-0, 6 |
| 3-4 | 0, 05-0, 5 |
| 5-15 | 0, 05-0, 4 |
An increase in monocytes in the blood of a child is called monocytosis. This deviation can be absolute or relative.
Types of monocytosis
If the analysis determines an increased percentage of monocytes, and the proportion of other types of leukocytes is reduced, then this indicates a relative monocytosis. In this case, the total number of all white cells can remain normal. This result is considered uninformative. This does not always indicate pathology. The percentage of monocytes may increase after infectious diseases and injuries. Sometimes relative monocytosis is a variant of the norm and is hereditary.
If the analysis showed an increased number of cells per liter of biomaterial, then this, as a rule, indicates a pathology. This condition is called absolute monocytosis. This is a sign of increased activity of the immune system, which has to deal with foreign agents. At the same time, monocytes are very quickly consumed. They do their job and die. The bone marrow has to produce more and more protective cells.
If the baby has not yet reached the age of one, then it is impossible to diagnose relative monocytosis in him. Normally, in infants, the percentage of monocytes can reach 12%. This is due to the characteristics of the immune system in young children.
The main value for diagnosis is absolute monocytosis. In most cases, this indicates that the child is unwell. Therefore, when relative monocytosis is detected, doctors prescribe a second analysis to determine the absolute number of cells.
Pathological causes
There are many diseases in which high monocytes in the blood of a child are detected. The reason for this deviation may be the following pathologies:
- diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses;
- infection with worms and protozoan parasites;
- inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity;
- poisoning;
- allergic reactions;
- blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma);
- autoimmune pathologies;
- infectious processes after surgical interventions.
Monocytosis in childhood is most often caused by respiratory infections (SARS, influenza) or gastrointestinal disorders. More serious pathologies are much less common, but they also cannot be ruled out. Therefore, an increase in the level of monocytes in the blood of a child is a warning diagnostic sign.
Non-pathological causes
Moderate monocytosis is not always a sign of pathology. Elevated monocytes in the blood of a child can be determined after suffering infectious diseases, as well as after removal of the tonsils and adenoids. During teething in babies, the number of monocytic cells also increases. In this way, the immune system protects the gums from infection.
Other test indicators
The doctor must pay attention to other data of the general blood test in children. Monocytes are always considered in conjunction with all other test results. The indicators of the following elements and blood parameters are important:
- Lymphocytes. If the concentration of monocytes and lymphocytes is higher than normal, then this is a sign of a bacterial or viral infection. It also indicates the activity of the immune system. If a decrease in lymphocytes is noted during monocytosis, then this indicates a weakness in the body's defense.
- Eosinophils. Higheosinophils against the background of monocytosis are most often observed in diseases of an allergic nature. Such test results are typical for children with bronchial asthma, hay fever or atopic dermatitis. A similar combination of analysis data is also a sign of infection with worms or protozoan intestinal parasites. In rare cases, elevated eosinophils and monocytes indicate serious blood diseases: lymphoma or leukemia.
- Basophiles. An increase in this type of leukocyte against the background of monocytosis indicates the presence of infection, allergies or autoimmune diseases.
- Neutrophils. The simultaneous increase in monocytes and neutrophils is a fairly common option. This indicates infection with bacteria or fungi. In this case, lymphocytes are often reduced.
- SOE. What do elevated monocytes in the blood mean in combination with an increase in ESR? This is a sign of an inflammatory process. Monocytosis and increased red blood cell sedimentation rate are seen in infections, allergic reactions, and autoimmune processes.
What to do
Suppose a study found an increase in monocytes in the blood of a child. The transcript of this analysis must be shown to the pediatrician. The doctor will evaluate all the test data and, if necessary, prescribe an additional examination.
If you suspect a pathology of a bacterial, viral and fungal nature, as well as parasitic infestations, you will need to consult an infectious disease specialist. The specialist may order the following additional tests for the child:
- serological tests forthe presence of pathogens;
- clinical urinalysis;
- stool samples for bakposev and eggs of parasites;
- coprogram;
- nose and throat swabs.
If intestinal infections are not detected, but the child complains of abdominal pain, then a consultation with a gastroenterologist or surgeon may be required. You may need to do an abdominal ultrasound.
If the baby has swollen lymph nodes, then doctors most often suspect infectious mononucleosis. This disease is often accompanied by monocytosis. For the purpose of diagnosis, a special blood test for atypical mononuclear cells is prescribed.
If heart murmurs are heard during monocytosis, and the child complains of pain in the joints, then a consultation with a rheumatologist will be needed. These symptoms may be a sign of an autoimmune disease. To confirm or deny the presence of such pathologies, you need to donate blood for biochemistry and rheumatic tests.
Treatment
What to do if the test scores exceed the allowable values? An increase in monocytes in the blood of a child is not a separate disease. This can only be a diagnostic sign of various pathologies.
There are no special drugs to reduce the level of monocytes. In this case, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease. After eliminating the causes of monocytosis, the analysis indicators normalize on their own.
