White blood cells are the most important elements in human blood, it is they that help protect against harmful effects of harmful microorganisms and substances. They are able to disarm all foreign particles that enter the body. Based on this, we can say for sure that the behavior and condition of these cells can indicate an inflammatory process, a blood test can indicate in sufficient detail the existing pathologies in the body. That is why during the diagnosis of the patient it is simply necessary to find out the number of leukocytes, for this a special study is prescribed in which the leukocyte formula of the blood is studied. Decoding in children and adults can be very different, so everyone needs to know exactly how to read the analysis data. They will help to find out the nature of the disease, the cause and prevent the consequences.
Leukocyte formula: what does it consist of?
The leukocyte blood formula (decoding in children and adults has its own differences) - these are not just white blood cells, but several of their varieties, each of which is responsible for the operation of a particular system.
White blood cells are blood cells responsible for protecting the body. Their goal is to create a certain border that harmful bacteria, toxic substances and foreign bodies should not cross. Once bacteria get into the body, they signal this by an increase in indicators, you can see them on a blood test. White blood cells are divided into several varieties: basophils, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes. And they all perform a specific task. But what functions are assigned to them?
Neutrophils are responsible for safety, they must recognize the virus, cover it and destroy it. They come in several varieties:
- myelocytes and metamyelocytes - these cells cannot be found in the body of a healthy person, they appear only if the leukocyte blood formula was taken for examination, the norm in which is broken, and bacteria that have caused serious pathology have already appeared in the blood;
- stabs appear if there is a bacterial infection in the body, their number begins to grow, if the segmented ones cannot neutralize the microorganisms that caused the infection;
- segmented are in the body in the greatest quantity, since it is they who are assigned the role of the body's defenders.
Eosinophils are a kind of protective barrier against all types of bacteria, and they appear most often if an allergy, oncology or autoimmune pathology progresses in the human body.
Lymphocytes help create antiviral immunity, because it is they who have the ability to fix antigens in their memory and are directly involved in the production of antibodies.
Monocytes in purpose are similar to neutrophils, but differ in that they have the ability not only to capture and destroy pathogenic bacteria, but also to absorb dead cells, thus they purify the blood, allowing tissues to recover.
Basophils appear at the moment when allergic reactions occur in the body, they do not allow harmful bacteria and toxins to spread.
The leukocyte blood count (the decoding in children of 2 years and any other age is slightly different) allows you to evaluate the patient's condition, identify the severity of the disease, what causes it and what may be the consequences.
Why know the blood formula and when is it considered?
Doctors immediately prescribe a blood test for any patient complaints. The leukocyte formula (the decoding of children of different ages is different) will reveal an infection, inflammation or foreign body in the body.
The analysis is prescribed for such conditions:
- with a preventive examination;
- children from birth to one year;
- before conducting routine vaccination;
- when planning a pregnancy;
- when contacting medical institutions with suspected pathology;
- with exacerbation of a chronic disease.
With symptoms such as diarrhea, nighttime sweating, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, difficulty breathing, a white blood cell count (decoding) is considered. Are lymphocytes elevated? Then you can immediately determine what triggered the symptoms. It is also recommended to conduct this study if the patient has a high fever, chills, headache and aching body.
Analysis Technique
To calculate the leukocyte formula with a blood smear, it is necessary to carry out several specific manipulations, dry, treat with a special dye and examine the material under a microscope. The laboratory assistant counts only those cells that he sees under the microscope until, as a result, he gains one hundred, and sometimes two hundred cells.
White blood cell counts are performed by a laboratory technician visually using a microscope to help. White blood cells are distributed unevenly on the surface of the smear: eosinophils, basophils and monocytes can be seen closer to the edges, but lymphocytes in the center.
Laboratory assistants can count in two known ways:
- Schilling's method, which allows you to determine the number of white blood cells in 4 areas of the smear;
- Filipchenko's method, which involves dividing the smear into three parts and carrying out counting every now and then.
On the form in certain graphs, the total number of cells is noted, and after that each type of leukocyte is counted separately.
It is also worth saying that such a cell count is not a very accurate method, and all because there are a large number of difficult to eliminate factors that introduce errors: error during sampling, preparation and color of the smear, individuality of the body, human factor in interpreting the results. A feature of several types of cells in the smear is the uneven distribution, which makes it difficult to count.
If a more accurate result is needed, then leukocyte indices are calculated, which are the ratio of different types of leukocytes, and sometimes the ESR indicator is also taken into account in the analysis.
Indices of this kind make it possible to determine the severity of intoxication and characterize the body's ability to adapt, that is, the ability to adapt to the effects of toxins and cope with them without harm to health. In addition, they provide an opportunity:
- get all the necessary data about the patient's condition;
- evaluate how the immune system works;
- determine the body's resistance;
- find out the level of immunological reactivity.
The norm of the white blood cell count in the adult population
The leukocyte blood count, the decoding of which in adults and children should be carried out only by a specialist who can immediately detect at least the slightest change and prescribe the appropriate treatment complex, contains important parameters. But everyone can independently compare the analysis indicators with the norm, for this it is necessary to have an idea of what values can be seen in it and what their changes indicate to any of the parties:
- Hemoglobin is a special protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for transporting oxygen through the blood vessels. The norm for men is 130-160 g / l, for the female body 120-140 g / l. Hemoglobin levels can increase with heart problems, diabetes mellitus or diseases of the hematopoietic system, but if the level is low, this may indicate anemia and leukemia.
- Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. Their norm in the blood is: for men - 4.0-5.0 × 1012 / l, for women - 3.6-4.6 × 1012 / l. They increase with sinusitis, bronchitis and other diseases of the respiratory tract, and a low level indicates infections and viruses.
- Hematocrit is an indicator of how the volume of red blood cells relates to the total plasma volume. The norm for the male population is 42-50%, for women - 34-47%. Increases in the norm can occur with diabetes, dehydration, heart and respiratory problems, and a low one with anemia or renal failure.
- White blood cells are directly involved in the functioning of the immune system. They are the main ones when the blood leukocyte formula is checked. Norm in adults - 4.0-9.0 × 109 / L. If they are elevated, then this indicates purulent inflammation, leukemia, acute rheumatism and malignant neoplasms.
As already mentioned, white blood cells in a blood test are presented in several forms.
- There are neutrophils: segmented or stab, this is the most numerous of the types of cells that contain the leukocyte formula of blood. The interpretation of segmented neutrophils is normal in adults in the range of 50-70%, and stab - 1-3%. Their number may be higher than normal for oncology, inflammation of the internal organs and interruptions in metabolic processes. But a decrease in their number indicates an infection, blood pathologies and thyrotoxicosis.
- Eosinophils are white blood cells that fight cancer cells, and they help cleanse the body of infections and toxins. The norm in the blood in adults is 1-5%. Their increased level indicates infections, tumors and blood diseases, and a decrease indicates intoxication or purulent processes.
- Monocytes are one of the largest white blood cell types that recognize foreign substances in the body. White blood cell count (transcript in adults) says that monocytes should normally be 3-9%. Exceeding the norm indicates the presence of a viral or fungal infection, and a decrease in aplastic anemia or purulent secretions.
- Basophils are involved in the formation of delayed-type inflammatory reactions. Their norm is 0.0-0.5%. Exceeding it may indicate the presence of allergic reactions, pathologies of the thyroid gland, myeloid leukemia, chickenpox, hemolytic anemia.
- Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cells that take part in cellular and humoral immunity through antibodies. Their norm in the blood of an adult is 20-40%.
From the foregoing, it is clear what normal indicators gives the white blood cell count (transcript in adults). Norm but the children are a little different and you need to know what it shows.
What will the children's blood formula tell about?
It is significantly different from that in adults. So, from 1 year to 3 years, the ratio of segmented should be in the range of 32-50%, and stabs should not exceed 1%, as well as basophils. Eosinophils should be from 1 to 4%, and lymphocytes - 38-58%, monocytes - 10-12%.
The leukocyte blood count, decoding in children of 5 years old, does not change, all indicators remain the same. The only difference is an increase in segmented neutrophils from 36 to 52% and a decrease in lymphocytes to 33-50 percent.
There are no exact rules for changing a blood test for white blood cells. With various pathologies, the indicator can change the same, but with one disease, it can significantly differ in different patients, and this is due to the individual characteristics of the body.
Elevated white blood cells what can indicate?
When the doctor recommends a blood test, the white blood cell count will be examined at the same time. Decoding in children and adults can indicate an increase in the number of neutrophils, in medicine this is called neutrophilia, and overestimated indicators can indicate:
- the presence of an infection caused by bacteria, fungi, certain viruses or protozoa;
- the onset of the inflammatory process, for example, it can be rheumatism, pancreatitis, peritonitis, dermatitis and others;
- the appearance of a tumor on one of the organs;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- endogenous intoxication;
- ischemic necrosis of tissues;
- taking certain drugs that can change the composition of the blood;
- the presence of stressful situations in the life of the patient or physical overstrain, and this condition is often observed after surgical treatment.
An increased number of lymphocytes - lymphocytosis, may indicate:
- complex forms of infectious diseases, including HIV, mononucleosis, acute viral infections, whooping cough, hepatitis;
- pathologies affecting the hematopoietic system: lymphocytic leukemia, Franklin's disease, lymphosarcoma;
- poisoning by poisons and heavy metals.
Elevated levels of eosinophils - eosinophilia, may indicate:
- penetration of parasites into the body;
- pathologies provoked by the presence of protozoa;
- allergies, which are expressed in the form of eczema, asthma, hay fever, or special intolerance to certain foods;
- myocardial infarction.
An increased number of monocytes is a sign of monocytic leukemia or pulmonary tuberculosis.
An increased number of basophils, which make up the smallest part of leukocytes, may indicate chronic ulcerative colitis or advanced blood diseases.
As is clear from the above, the leukocyte blood count, decoding in children and adults, is very important, because it is thanks to it that you can quickly identify health problems and begin treatment.
Decreased white blood cells indicate what?
A reduced number of neutrophils may indicate the presence of such pathologies in the patient's body:
- flu, chickenpox, hepatitis, rubella;
- typhoid fever and brucellosis;
- typhus and malaria;
- weak immunity in the elderly;
- blood diseases: leukemia, iron deficiency anemia and others;
- taking anticancer drugs;
- anaphylactic shock;
- congenital neutropenia.
And if the blood leukocyte formula (decoding) was checked, the lymphocytes are below normal according to its results, then this may indicate such diseases:
- acute form of infection;
- immunodeficiency;
- miliary tuberculosis;
- aplastic anemia;
- lupus erythematosus;
- pathology of the kidneys.
A decrease in the norm of eosinophils, which are found in rare cases, may indicate:
- stress or shock;
- the onset of inflammation;
- purulent infection of the most severe form.
Blood formula in newborns
The leukocyte blood count, decoding in children after birth, is slightly different and depends on age. In the first months after the birth of children, a leukocyte formula is only formed, it will remain until about a year old. Indices in infants are unstable, they can be severely disturbed in diseases caused by climate change and anxiety. By the age of six, the content of neutrophils and lymphocytes becomes larger, and by the age of 15 the formula more and more resembles that of adults.
So, as the child grows, his leukocyte blood count also grows. The interpretation in children of 6 years becomes more stable and does not change much with mood swings, as in infants. In newborns, neutrophils are in the range of 51-71%, in the first days after birth, the number increases, and after gradually decreases. The number of lymphocytes is also unstable and amounts to 15-35%, and by the 14th day of life the level reaches 55%, but when the child is a week old, the curves of lymphocytes and neutrophils converge, such an intersection in medicine is called the first cross, but more on that later .
As for basophils, newborns do not have them, monocytes in the blood make up 6.5-11%, and after a week their number increases to 14.1%, the lower limit - 8.4%. The minimum number of plasma cells is 6.4-11.2%. In infants from the first day to the seventh there is a visible left shift according to Schilling, which is established by the end of the first week.
In the first month of the newborn’s life, a clear leukocyte blood formula is drawn, the decoding in children up to a year varies in a wide range, but by the age of 6 the formula is established and does not jump under the slightest stressful situations.
Formula shift
Thanks to modern technology, today automatic blood analyzers can very quickly, and most importantly accurately, calculate the leukocyte form, which greatly facilitates the diagnosis and establishment of an accurate diagnosis. During the decryption of the analysis, changes in the ratio of mature and immature neutrophils are taken into account, because in the blood formula they are present in different forms and are listed in order from young to mature, counting is from left to right.
Laboratory assistants can record several types of shifts that indicate various pathologies.
If there is a shift to the left, then myelocytes and metamyelocytes are present in the blood. Such changes may indicate such processes:
- acute inflammatory processes: prostatitis, orchitis;
- purulent infections;
- acute bleeding;
- acidosis;
- poisoning with toxins;
- high loads.
If the blood leukocyte formula (decoding in adults) was checked, the norm in this case is violated, shows a left shift with rejuvenation, then this may indicate the presence of such pathologies:
- leukemia;
- erythroleukemia;
- the spread of metastases;
- myelofibrosis;
- coma.
Leukocyte Cross
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