WBC slightly low, causes?

Question

my last blood work showed my WBC to be slightly low, was good last year. Dr was not concened. what can cause this?

Answer 1

White Blood Cell (WBC) count and Differential
White blood cells (also called leukocytes) are your body's mobile defense system against infections. Like a SWAT team, white blood cells travel in the bloodstream to areas of infection and destroy harmful bacteria. A normal WBC count is 4.8 - 10.8 thousand cells per cubic millimeter, but varies from day to day depending upon the circumstances. The WBC count can be temporarily decreased when the body defends itself against a viral infection such as the common cold. A low WBC is an expected side effect of some medications such as Imuran and Purinethol, often used to treat inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

A low WBC count (leukopenia) is the norm during chemotherapy treatments. Like all blood cells, WBCs are made in the bone marrow. Chemotherapy selectively focuses its killing power on rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells. That is how it kills cancer cells and not the patient. Unfortunately, the cells in the bone marrow also divide rapidly and are attacked by most chemotherapy agents and the WBC count falls. If it drops too low, chemotherapy is temporarily halted while the bone marrow recovers.

A high WBC count (leukocytosis) is often found when the body is attacked by more serious infections such as bacterial pneumonia or diverticulitis. It is not unusual to see values around 15,000 to 30,000 during a serious bacterial infection. As the infection responds to antibiotic treatment, the WBC count quickly returns to normal. An extreme elevation in the WBC count is seen when cancer of the blood cells develops, a serious condition called leukemia. In this instance the WBC may be well over 100,000.

Not all WBCs are the same. In fact, there are five different types of white blood cells that together make up the total WBC count. Some are better at fighting infection while others focus on supporting the immune system. Others may be involved in allergic reactions. If the doctor orders a CBC with differential, or smear, the lab will break down the WBC count into the different types of white blood cells. This information is sometimes useful in determining the type and severity of an infection, allergic reactions, and other blood disorders.


AND Here is a discussion on Health Boards:

Question
hi ! well this is my first time on Healthboards, and I am here to see if I can help one of my BEST friends out. Well, my friend is LOW on his White Blood Cells. Does anyone know how serious this is, and do you guys know how to increase your WBC and what to do and not do to improve the situation? THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH for taking your time in reading this. I would really HOPE that you guys will REPLY to this. THANKS ! =]

Answer: Low white cell counts can be caused by chronic infection, recent regemin of antibiotics, for no reason in particular, and of course AIDS, and lymphomas. The most common reason is that some people do not absorb Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid well and that cuts down on the formation of white blood cells. You can go pretty low on WBC's as long as the ones you have are healthy and have all the necessary immunity against opportunistic infections.

Answer 2

Causes Of Low Wbc

Answer 3

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RE:
WBC slightly low, causes?
my last blood work showed my WBC to be slightly low, was good last year. Dr was not concened. what can cause this?

Answer 4

1

Answer 5

Don't be scare,if your doctor not concern most like only slight low.Some virus infection such as a common cold. will lower your wbc.If you concern wait a while and ask repeat the test.