In the article, consider the rate of leukocytes in the blood of an infant.
Leukocytes are one of the most important protectors of a baby's he alth. They guard the normal functioning of the child's body, protect it from pathogenic bacteria and viruses, promote recovery processes and participate in immune reactions. Parents want to know what is the rate of leukocytes in the blood of newborns, how you can decipher the analysis yourself.
Destination
A baby, like an adult, is sent for a blood test when he has some problems in the body. The test results are always compared with other symptoms: fever, appetite, general condition. But in some cases, deviations are found during a preventive examination. For this reason, parentsnewborn babies should remember how important preventive examinations are, which help to identify diseases that occur without symptoms, and only on the basis of the results of the analysis can any ailments be seen. For example, there is a congenital narrowing of the urinary tract. If treatment is not started on time, then stagnation of urine will lead to the onset of inflammation of the kidneys in the child. It is necessary to carry out preventive examinations - once every three months.
What is the rate of leukocytes in the blood of a child, many people are interested.
Do I need preparation?
For a more accurate result, you need to follow a number of simple recommendations. There are no special rules, but blood should be taken early in the morning in order for the decoding to be as accurate as possible. It is advisable to do this on an empty stomach, but this condition is difficult for small patients, and therefore approximately two hours should elapse between feeding and the procedure.
The test will help determine the level of leukocytes in the blood of children. Consider the norm below.
Blood sampling algorithm: features of the procedure
Blood in young children is usually taken from a finger, less often from a vein. General analysis requires capillary blood. That is why blood is taken from the finger of the hand, in some cases from the heel.
In older children, a blood test is taken on an empty stomach, but for infants, this condition is optional. To take the analysis, use sterile disposable instruments. The laboratory assistant who takes blood must work in gloves, disinfected with disinfectant solutions after all tests and changed as necessary. Also, the laboratory assistant can use disposable gloves.
Blood is traditionally taken from the fourth finger of the hand, it is first wiped well with cotton wool soaked in alcohol, then an injection of 2-3 millimeters is made into the flesh of the finger with a special needle. The first drop is removed with cotton wool soaked in ether.
First, blood is collected to determine the ESR and hemoglobin, then to determine the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes, after which blood smears are made using glasses, the cell structure is studied under a microscope.
Important information
Parents often worry about the correct white blood cell count for newborns. The general analysis determines leukocytes, erythrocytes, as well as monocytes, lymphocytes, hemoglobin and other elements. In addition, cell size, maturity and shape of erythrocytes are determined. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting. Their number is established through a general analysis. Venous biochemical analysis allows you to determine triglycerides. In addition, blood is taken for allergies.
What is the rate of leukocytes in the blood of a child, it is important to find out in advance.
Main functions of leukocytes
The role of leukocytes is to protect the body from harmful foreign microorganisms and cells. They absorb harmful elements and prevent infections from developing. Although white blood cells are called white bodies, they are actually colorless.
Most often these cells have a rounded shape, but it can be irregular. Normally, their size varies inwithin 6-20 microns. You can compare leukocytes with independent unicellular organisms that are able to move through the circulatory system and quickly penetrate into an infected area. While the baby is in the mother's womb, they share the same circulatory system. After birth and then for some time, the rate of white blood cells in the blood of an infant is significantly higher than the rate of the same cells in an adult human.
Leukocytes, which have granular inclusions in the cytoplasm, can be of three types:
Neutrophils are the most numerous type of white blood cells. They produce protection for the human body, absorb and digest foreign cells, and then self-destruct. These cells have several stages of maturation. In humans, not all of their stages should be diagnosed in the blood. If this happens, then the leukocyte formula has failed
- Eosinophils. Such cells predominantly serve as markers for infection, tumor, or allergic reaction. Under a microscope, they look like binuclear amoebae, which move freely both through the blood and penetrate into tissues through the vessels. Eosinophils cause destruction of cells near the foreign substance or organism, which alerts other cells. They activate the immune forces of the body if necessary.
- Basophiles. Compared to other types of white blood cells, basophils are the largest and smallest. These cells are important in determining an allergic reaction. When the allergen enters the blood, the cell is destroyed,and active substances are released. If neutrophils are killer cells, then basophils are like scouts.
The norm of leukocytes in the blood of an infant
A complete blood count, which is one of the mandatory tests, includes, among other things, the determination of the content of leukocytes in the blood of an infant. Their norm changes, depending on the age of the baby.
In a newborn - from 8.5 to 24.5, up to a week - from 7.2 to 18.5, from 7 to 30 days - from 6.5 to 13.8, from a month to six months - from 5.5 to 12, 5, from six months to a year - from 6 to 12.
If the level of such cells in the blood rises, we can talk about various pathologies. This indicator mainly indicates the processes of inflammation and blood diseases. In addition, there may be a certain physiological increase in the content of leukocytes. This may be associated in infants with severe stress, prolonged crying and the intake of certain foods (especially meat). That is why, when preparing for a blood test, a number of restrictions must be observed in order for the result to be reliable.
High white blood cell count
In some cases, after the birth of the baby, a high content of leukocytes is observed. Such an indicator in a baby indicates problems with the he alth of the child.
If an increase in the level of leukocytes occurs within two days after the birth of the baby, this is normal, because in this way the child's body is protected from the influence of various viruses and infections.
ExceptIn addition, there is an increase in the content of leukocytes in children born prematurely. If over time this indicator does not normalize, this indicates that the baby has received an infectious disease. Even the most common cold can provoke the appearance and development of leukocytosis.
In order to avoid an increase in the level of leukocytes in the blood of an infant, it is necessary to protect it as carefully as possible from various colds. In the event that, nevertheless, the child has been exposed to viruses or bacteria, you need to take a very responsible approach to treatment.
If the temperature rises to 38.5 degrees or more, you should immediately consult a doctor. When the full recovery of the child has already occurred, it is necessary to pass an analysis for the degree of leukocytes. Their level should reach normal numbers. In the event that this did not happen, and leukocytes are contained in large quantities, one can judge the presence of he alth problems.
And when the white blood cells are less than normal in the blood of a child?
Decreased white blood cells
A decrease in the number of leukocytes below the normal level is called leukopenia. Such a phenomenon can occur in acute courses of many infections, for example, in inflammatory processes with suppuration, bacterial infections, as a result of an acute lack of oxygen, and about a dozen different reasons. A decrease in the degree of leukocytes in the blood of an infant can be observed when a viral infection is introduced into the body, as a result of the transfer of complex toxicological and infectious conditions that are accompanied byadverse effects on children's bone marrow, with certain bacterial infections. The list of various reasons that cause a decrease in white blood cells in a child can be continued for a long time. Naturally, information regarding their quantitative content indicates the seriousness of the situation, but such information is not enough to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. Diseases that provoke leukopenia occur against the background of defects in the hematopoietic function of the child's body, especially his hematopoietic organs, namely the bone marrow.
Here's what you need to know the rate of leukocytes in children in the blood test.
In addition, there are other causes of leukopenia in infants, which include:
- genetic congenital disorders;
- the effect of chemotherapy drugs used when adverse processes occur in the body;
- manifestations of kidney failure;
- various symptoms of TB.
Why does a situation arise when a child's white blood cells are below normal?
Causes that cause leukopenia: details
Hypotonia. Reduced blood pressure causes disturbances in the proper blood supply to tissues and organs.
Hypotrophy. A lack of body weight indicates a metabolic disorder, perhaps as a result of a disease of the gastrointestinal tract or an irrational menu.
Long-term drug treatment. Taking medicines for a long period of time poisonschildren's body, changes the normal state of the blood, changes the formation of normal quality and quantity of leukocytes in the bone marrow. Drugs, entering the body, are neutralized in the kidneys and liver as xenobiotics, that is, foreign substances. Many enzymes are involved in this process, their insufficient content or low activity can poison the body and lead to leukopenia.
Lack of vitamins - hypovitaminosis. If vitamins are supplied in insufficient quantities, this negatively affects the material metabolism. The need for vitamins in a growing child's body is much stronger than in an adult. A number of enzymes are not able to catalyze metabolic reactions in vitamin deficiency, or they have a very low reaction rate. For example, without folic acid (vitamin B9), nucleic acids are not synthesized, which make it impossible for any cells in the body to function. And even erythrocytes, blood non-nuclear cells, have a nucleus at the initial stages of development, which is lost later. Vitamins are not synthesized in the body, and therefore the lack of their intake with food causes metabolic disorders. Thus, when folic acid deficiency is the cause of leukopenia, prescribing this vitamin and eating foods rich in these vitamins will increase leukopoiesis and help the child recover.
In some cases, it can be difficult to determine which particular vitamin deficiency a baby has. Therefore, even if the child is he althy, for prevention in spring and winter, you need to take multivitamins (A, C, E, B 1, 2, 9) andmicroelements (magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron and copper), taking into account the dosage of funds prescribed by the pediatrician. According to statistics, this helps children get sick less often.
Leukocyte formula
Now we know the rate of leukocytes in the blood of a one-month-old baby.
If a baby's leukocytes increase, a specialist will definitely study its leukocyte formula, which will show exactly what kind of disease is present in a small body.
With eosinophilia, an increase in the blood is characteristic of eosinophils and leukocytes, the child is infected with worms or suffers from allergies. In addition, this may indicate the development of scarlet fever, mononucleosis, rheumatism, leukemia, and malaria in a child. Also, this phenomenon can be observed when recovering from an infectious bacterial disease.
In monocytosis, an increase in the blood is characteristic of monocytes and leukocytes, the child does not suffer from mononucleosis, but may be sick with lymphogranulomatosis, tuberculosis, leukemia, rheumatism, viral infection, ulcerative nonspecific colitis, infectious mononucleosis, or infected with worms.
With an increase in neutrophils, one can judge the occurrence of neutrophilia. The specialist will suspect the presence of oncopathology, bacterial infection, inflammation of the internal organs. If a child is taking immunostimulating drugs, has lost blood, or has had a vaccination, these blood counts may also increase.
Lymphocytosis is a situation in which lymphocytes increase, indicating leukemia and viral infection. If athe baby is taking medicine or there has been food poisoning of poor quality, some of them can cause this phenomenon.
The white blood cell count makes it possible to determine the origin of the infection in the child.
Nutrition for high white blood cells
You need to understand that an excess of white blood cells in the blood of an infant is not a disease, but a sign of a pathological process in the human body. The doctor will develop a scheme and methodology to reduce white blood cells in the baby's blood, while the basis will be the feature of the detected disease. The diet of the patient also matters. There is a whole list of products that can cause a deviation from the norm of leukocytes in the general blood test in children. That is why during the treatment it is necessary to include the following products in the child's diet as rarely as possible: sour-milk and dairy; seafood; porridge from rice, buckwheat and oatmeal; pomegranate and grapes, carrots.
A nutritionist will help you create a weekly menu that will reduce the number of leukocytes in the blood of children to normal.
Conclusion
If there is a slight deviation of leukocytes from the norm in a child, this does not mean at all that he is sick with something. That is why for the effectiveness of the blood test, its objectivity and accuracy, you need to donate the baby’s blood in a calm state, it is advisable for infants to do this two hours after eating.
If a child has a disease, in each specific situation after examination,researching the results of a blood test, the presence of certain signs and the time of their occurrence, asking parents about the presence of such a disease in the family and, perhaps, the need for additional diagnostic methods, the specialist makes a diagnosis and, based on it, determines the tactics of treatment.
We examined the rate of leukocytes in the blood of an infant.
