It can lead to serious complications, such as damage to the heart, lung, liver, skin, and nervous system. White blood cell levels increase significantly during healthy pregnancy because of the physical stress the body endures during this time. The levels start to rise within the first trimester and continue to rise into the third trimester. During labor and in the hours following delivery, white blood cell levels may surge again, to between 9, and 25, white blood cells in every microliter of blood.
This is in response to the physical stresses and trauma of labor. Within 6—8 weeks of delivery, white blood cells return to their normal levels. A doctor may use a blood test to determine levels of white blood cells.
If levels of white blood cells are lower than usual, this may be a sign that the person has reduced immune activity. This can occur as a result of conditions similar to HIV , or immunosuppressant medications. A deficiency of white blood cells is why people with conditions or medications that suppress the immune system have an increased risk of infection. A number of conditions, collectively known as myeloproliferative disorders, can occur in the bone marrow.
These develop when too many immature blood cells are produced, leading to an imbalance. Myeloproliferative disorders are rare conditions that may or may not become malignant. The exact effects of a high white blood cell count depend on the condition or factor causing them. After noting any symptoms, a doctor can use a blood test to assess the white blood cell count, and further tests and examinations will often be necessary to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.
A high white blood cell count may indicate several things, such as the immune system is working to destroy an infection, a sign of physical or emotional stress, or particular types of cancer.
Pregnancy also leads to high white blood cell count, as levels tend to rise from the first trimester, into the third. White blood cell levels will also rise in the hours following labor, due to the severe stress the body undergoes.
Meanwhile, a low white blood cell count can signal that an injury or condition is destroying cells faster than the body is making them. It could also mean that the body is producing too few of them. While symptoms will depend on the cause of the high white blood cell count, fluctuations in white blood cell count may not cause any symptoms.
Read the article in Spanish. Login Sign up. Healthcare home Our Services. Short Term Nursing Care. Long Term Nursing Care. Respiratory Care. Stroke Rehabilitation. Speech and Language Therapy. Sleep Study.
Equipment on Rent. Lab Tests. Facebook Live. Our Services. Doctor Consultation. Buy Now. Description Lab tests and reports you can trust. Now right at your doorstep. Importance of Physiotherapy in Pregnancy Hello there, mommy to be!
A fluttering of butterflies in your stomach; measuring your… Read More. How to handle a post-dental extraction swelling Do you really need this piece of info? What is Gestational Diabetes? How it can be Treated? Lab tests at your doorstep. White blood cells work to destroy any foreign virus, fungus, or bacteria that enter your body. When you get sick, your white blood cell count is higher than normal. This is because your body is releasing more of these cells to fight the infection.
But if you have certain illnesses like HIV or cancer, your white blood cell count can drop to very low levels. It can also drop if you are on medicine that weakens your immune system. This includes medicines such as chemotherapy.
This test measures the total count of all types of white blood cells. It does not measure the levels of each type of white blood cells. You may need this test to find out if you have an infection or illness.
If your immune system is weakened by medicine or illness, you may also need this test to see if your white blood cell count is too low. If it is, even a simple infection could be very harmful to your body. Differential WBC count. This blood test measures the amount of each type of white blood cell. Complete blood count CBC. This measures all of the major blood cells, including white blood cells. Neutrophil test. This may be done to check for neutropenia. If you have neutropenia, it means your neutrophil count is low and you can easily get an infection.
Bacterial and viral cultures.
0コメント