One of the formed elements of human blood are leukocytes. These are white (colorless) blood cells, the level of which allows you to determine the state of the immune system. Leukocytes are the main helpers of a person in the fight against all kinds of infections, in tissue repair. By determining the level of leukocytes, you can find out the general condition of both an adult and a child. When white blood cells are low in the blood (leukopenia), there is a weakening of the person's immunity. And, therefore, the likelihood of developing viral infections is high. What is the cause of leukopenia? We'll talk about it below.
How to find out the number of white blood cells?
To determine the level of leukocytes, it is enough to pass the most common general blood test in any medical institution. The analysis is carried out in the morning on an empty stomach. Infants are advised to donate blood two or two and a half hours after feeding. Urgent analysis can be carried out within an hour. However, it is possible to determine the level of leukocytes in a shorter period of time - 15-20 minutes. The analysis will not take much time - only about 2 minutes. It should be noted right away that only determining the number of leukocytesnot enough to make a diagnosis. This is the start of a more thorough follow-up.
What are the symptoms of a low white blood cell count?
Reduced content of leukocytes in the blood (below 4000 in 1 µl) - leukopenia - leads to weakening, exhaustion of the body and manifests itself in the following symptoms:
- high body temperature;
- heart palpitations;
- anxiety;
- headaches;
- dizziness;
- general weakness of the body.
What causes a decrease in white blood cells?
So, the analysis revealed that the leukocytes in the blood are low. The reasons for this may be different. Possible viral infections such as colds, flu, rubella, viral hepatitis. Bacteriological infections (brucellosis, typhoid fever), oncological diseases, connective tissue diseases (rheumatism, polyarthrosis, lupus erythematosus), diseases of the spleen and liver, radiation sickness can also be the reasons for the decrease in leukocytes.
If the leukocytes in the blood are low, then the human body cannot resist infections, because leukocytes produce special antibodies that protect our body from harmful microorganisms that enter it. And with their low level, a person becomes extremely defenseless against any infections.
Treatment of leukopenia
In cases where white blood cells are low, treatment is necessary. However, before choosing it, you need to clearly find out the reason.leukopenia. This is due to the fact that urgent treatment is required for patients when the leukocytes in the blood are low due to dysfunction of the bone marrow. In other cases, such a rapid treatment, which consists in stimulating the formation of leukocytes, is not required. To date, there are a large number of various drugs that help to cope with low levels of white blood cells. The GP or hematologist determines which one is needed for a particular case.
