To reveal a complete picture of the state of the body during illness, a detailed blood test with a leukocyte formula is prescribed. One of the important indicators that are examined during this procedure are neutrophils. Their decrease may indicate a cold or indicate the development of more serious diseases that require immediate treatment. What to do if neutrophils in the blood are reduced, and what symptoms accompany this condition, we will consider in the article.
Definition
Neutrophils are white blood cells that take an active part in the body's immune response. They are the largest group of leukocytes. When foreign agents enter the body, they are one of the first to rush to fight them. Once bacteria are consumed, neutrophils die.
By the number of neutrophilic leukocytes in the blood, one can judgethe cause of the disease and the stage of its development. To determine the state of the body, the percentage of neutrophils relative to leukocytes is calculated. If neutrophils are reduced, this may indicate both the failure of immunity and the body's immune response to various viruses and infections.
Views
Specialists distinguish two types of neutrophils in human blood:
- Stab cells, which are the youngest cells. This appearance is often elevated in newborns.
- Segmented. These are formed adult cells, the nucleus of which consists of segments.
Norms
Norms of neutrophils in the blood do not differ by gender, but differ by age.
| Age | Stab (average value), % in relation to leukocytes | Segmented (mean value), % in relation to leukocytes |
| Children of the 1st month of life | 1–5 | 27–55 |
| Children under 5 | 1–5 | 20–55 |
| Children under 15 | 1–4 | 40–60 |
| Adults | total content from 45–70 | total content from 45–70 |
In most cases, young children experience physiological neutropenia (decrease in neutrophils). In the process of growing up, these blood counts return to normal. Control required.
Mechanism for reducing neutrophils
Some neutrophils circulate in the blood, while others are "in reserve", attaching towalls of blood vessels. They are the first to react to the appearance of foreign cells. Absorbing them, neutrophils die.
If the disease progresses for a long time, the analysis indicates that the segmented protective cells are reduced. In this case, you need to pay attention to the number of stab neutrophils, which the immune system sends to replace the dead cells. A significant increase indicates the development of a serious pathological process. If the level of young neutrophils is not reduced relative to the norm, this indicates the normal synthesis of protective cells. With adequate treatment, their content in the blood will be restored. A condition in which young neutrophils are not enough requires careful examination.
Reason for downgrade
In the vast majority of cases, a decrease in neutrophils in the blood is observed due to the development of the inflammatory process. The most common factors for neutropenia are:
- Prolonged inflammatory processes in the body.
- Intoxication.
- Infectious diseases.
- Fungal diseases.
- Chemotherapy.
- Some drugs. For example, antibiotics or antiviral drugs, anticancer and antithyroid drugs.
- Anemia.
- Live in an environmentally unfriendly environment.
- Severe viral infection.
- Bacterial diseases.
- The presence of parasites in the body.
- Radioactive exposure.
- Allergy.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Poisoning with toxic substances.
- Tumor processes.
- Hereditary diseases.
- Necrotic processes in the body.
- Blood diseases.
Symptomatics
Symptoms that suggest a decrease in neutrophils are as follows:
- Sore throat.
- Stomatitis.
- Temperature increase.
- Disorders of the stool, as low rates can provoke malfunctions in the intestines.
- Skin rashes.
- Poor wound healing.
- Dizziness.
- Bleeding.
- Deterioration of hair, skin, teeth.
It is worth noting that the above signs may be manifestations of other diseases. Therefore, if you feel unwell, it is recommended to donate blood as soon as possible in order to identify abnormalities.
Transcript of results
Deciphering the analyzes should be done by a qualified specialist, because in order to judge the state of the body, it is not enough to know the level of neutrophils alone. The content of other blood components must also be taken into account.
The ratio of lymphocytes and neutrophils is of great diagnostic value. Consider the possible variations:
- With a decrease in neutrophils, increased lymphocytes. In most cases, this condition indicates the impact of a viral infection, as well as the active and efficient functioning of the immune system. If achanges in indicators are insignificant, then the body is at the stage of recovery. Large deviations from the norm indicate an acute stage of the disease. This result may also indicate the development of such dangerous diseases as HIV, tuberculosis and oncology. Additional examinations are needed. If after a month the tests returned to normal, then the body coped with the cause of pathological abnormalities. A situation in which neutrophils are reduced and lymphocytes are increased in a child without additional symptoms of the disease may indicate a latent disease or the presence of chronic pathologies.
- Neutrophils and lymphocytes are reduced. This indicates the presence of a chronic disease or the carriage of the virus. In this condition, frequent inflammatory processes can be observed.
- If leukocytes and neutrophils are reduced, then this can be a symptom of dangerous pathologies and disruption of the immune system. At the same time, it becomes difficult for the body to fight inflammatory processes. It is very important to identify the cause of this condition as soon as possible.
- Neutrophils are reduced, monocytes are increased. This can be facilitated by a large number of diseases, which, in most cases, are of an infectious nature. This condition indicates the immune response of the body. Additional testing needed.
Decrease in neutrophils in the blood of a child
Changes in a child's blood counts always alarm parents. Lowering neutrophils is no exception. A change in the level of these cells in the child's body can beis associated both with the pathological processes occurring in it, and with the physiological ones - in this case, by two or three years, the level of neutrophils returns to normal. It happens that neutropenia is congenital. This condition should be treated as soon as possible, as there is a high risk of developing dangerous infections due to a decrease in the body's defenses. A decrease in segmented neutrophils in a child can be triggered by childhood infections, which include measles, chickenpox, and rubella. Also, this condition is observed with emotional overwork, after vaccination and during teething. In these cases, the results of a repeated blood test diagnose the normalization of the level of neutrophils.
Diagnosis
The content of the level of neutrophils is detected by a general blood test with a leukocyte formula. Since the indicators are influenced by many factors, for more accurate values it is necessary to follow some rules.
- Blood donated in the morning on an empty stomach.
- It is not recommended to drink coffee, strong tea and products containing sugar 4-5 hours before the analysis. Smoking can also affect the accuracy of the analysis.
- For a day, stop drinking alcohol and fatty, spicy foods.
- Stop taking medicines in 1-2 days. If this is not possible, the lab technician must be notified before donating blood.
- Before the analysis, try not to be nervous and not engage in physical activity.
Treatment
Neutropenia is not an independent disease. It is always a sign of other pathological conditions occurring in the body. There is no direct treatment to normalize the level of neutrophils in the blood. First of all, it is necessary to identify the root cause of this condition.
- Mild form, which in most cases is physiological, does not require treatment. In this case, it is worth considering the general condition of the body.
- Antihistamines are prescribed for an allergic reaction.
- If fungi are the cause of the decrease, antimycotics are used.
- In case of an infectious lesion of the body, antibacterial agents are prescribed.
- If drugs are the cause, they need to be replaced.
- Be sure to prescribe drugs to maintain the immune system.
- It is recommended to take a course of vitamin therapy.
- If the reason for the decrease in neutrophils in the blood is diseases in which the bone marrow is not able to produce protective cells, the doctor may decide on the need for a surgical method of treatment - a bone marrow transplant.
- Severe neutropenia may require hospital treatment.
It is important to remember that you cannot self-medicate. Therapy should be prescribed by a doctor, because only a qualified specialist will be able to correctly interpret the blood test and identify the problem. Based on the results obtained, effective therapy is prescribed in each specific case.
In the treatment of a child, special attention is paid to his age, the presence of chronic andhereditary diseases. If a slight decrease in neutrophils is detected against the background of a normal level of other indicators, therapy is not required. It is necessary to control the condition in which a blood test is systematically taken.
Folk remedies
To strengthen the immune system and normalize the level of neutrophils in the blood, traditional medicine is used, which has proven itself as an adjuvant therapy. Consider some recipes:
- A decoction of oatmeal.
- Mugwort tincture.
- Royal Jelly.
It is worth remembering that the use of traditional medicine must be agreed with the attending physician.
Preventive measures
People who are prone to low neutrophil levels need to be aware of an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. Compliance with preventive measures will reduce the risk of their development. To do this, you should follow some rules:
- Wash hands thoroughly.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Keep a he althy lifestyle.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Don't get cold.
- Do moderate exercise.
- Strengthen immunity.
- See a doctor in time and treat all diseases to the end, excluding their transition to the chronic phase.
Conclusion
If a blood test revealed a decrease in neutrophils, do not immediately panic. In some cases, this condition does not indicate serioushe alth problems and, subject to certain recommendations, quickly returns to normal. If the analysis revealed deviations in the level of other blood parameters, it is worth identifying the cause of this pathology and starting appropriate treatment.
