2006-11-22 13:40:17 · 11 answers · asked by fefe 4 in Health ➔ Other - Health
A high white blood count usually indicates the presence of an infection or foreign material in the body. It is a normal inflammatory response of the body to increase its WBC count to fight off any pathogens. However, I would suggest you tell her to see a physician and get an expert opinion on what this may mean. It's always good to be informed!
2006-11-22 13:44:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
WBC goes up when you have an infection. Moreso when it's a bacterial infection...
Neutrophils and monocytes are the biggest cause of this increase. Neutrophils are the first responders, and they are phagocytes (they eat the bad guys). They literally eat themselves to death, consuming until they burst. If you have pus on your wound, most of it is a whole bunch of neutrophils that ate until they exploded. Monocytes show up a day or two later, turn into macrophages, and then start phagocytizing as well. They can get huge, and just wind up staying in place as they are too big to get back into the blood stream.
You do not need an actual wound for your WBC count to go up. And the WBC count up high is actually a good thing, as it means your immune system is doing it's job. What you need to be concerned with is what is referred to as a "shift to the left," and that is when the neutrophils are running out, and immature neutrophils called bands are being released instead. They show up on the left of the chart, hence the name "shift to the left."
Soooooo, as long as the WBC is high and the band count is low, things are going great.
I can't think of any bad reason why a WBC being high would be bad, unless of course they were attacking the body because of some auto-immune disorder, transplant, etc.
2006-11-22 21:42:34 · answer #2 · answered by cosper123 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here is something to read about elevated white blood count. As the other answers read, its has to do with an infection.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-white-blood-cell-count/AN00372
2006-11-22 21:43:39 · answer #3 · answered by Sparkles 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Her body is fighting off a bacterial or viral infection. Or it could be related to a chronic medical condition. Without her medical history and a medical degree hard to determine.
2006-11-22 21:43:24 · answer #4 · answered by doom92556 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
White blood cells fight infection. I can't tell where the infection may be with so little information.
2006-11-22 21:43:21 · answer #5 · answered by holey moley 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is an infection somewhere. The pediatrician should be determining the source.
2006-11-22 21:43:32 · answer #6 · answered by Kathy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she is fighting some sort of infection...wbc increase is the bodys natural response to fighting infection
2006-11-22 21:45:32 · answer #7 · answered by rodeorn62 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
could be an infection, it could be a number of things, but you did not give enough information,to give a clear answer
2006-11-22 21:46:41 · answer #8 · answered by donttalkjustplay05 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not trying to worry you but prepare yourself because it may be cancer.
2006-11-22 22:47:29 · answer #9 · answered by Dreamer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
serious infection
2006-11-22 21:48:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋