What does it mean when you have low white blood cells?
A low white blood cell count in adults is less than 4,000 cells per microliter of blood. A low white blood cell count can be an indicator of certain conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin deficiencies, or a side effect of cancer treatment.
What are symptoms of low white blood cells?
If you have a low white blood cell count, you may:
- Have repeated fevers and infections.
- Get bladder infections that may make it painful to pass urine, or make you urinate more often.
- Get lung infections that cause coughing and difficulty breathing.
- Get mouth sores.
- Get sinus infections and a stuffy nose.
What are the most common reasons for a low white blood cell count?
Some of the most common causes of low white blood cell count: • Bone Marrow Suppression: White blood cells are generated in the bones and the reduction in the production of the cells can result from any condition affecting the bones. Myelofibrosis is a condition where the bone marrow is replaced by…
How serious is low white blood cell count?
If an individual has a low white blood cell count, his or her body becomes susceptible to serious illnesses and infections. A low white blood cell count can indicate the presence of one or more serious health problems, such as leukemia, hyperthyroidism, aplastic anemia , or an infectious disease.
How do you treat a low white blood cell count?
Low white blood cell count can be treated with the help of proper medication. Besides that, on consultation, the doctor will prescribe a diet for the treatment of low white blood cell count. The doctor will advise the person suffering from low white blood cell count to have multivitamins, and also follow a diet rich in zinc and copper.
What constitutes a low white blood cell count?
The definition of low white blood cell count varies from one medical practice to another. In general, for adults a count lower than 4,000 white blood cells per microliter of blood is considered a low white blood cell count.