White blood cells are blood cells that are formed by bone marrow. They are able to change shape and move due to such changes. The role of leukocytes in the body is extremely serious, since they protect the body from the effects of pathogenic bacteria and infections. These blood cells produce antibodies,
Absorbing foreign substances and decay products. Their standard level is about four to nine thousand per microliter, such figures are usually shown by a general blood test. White blood cells are elevated when this figure is markedly exceeded. The reason can be a variety of factors, from physical stress to climate change. When can such a diagnosis be serious and require treatment?
Diagnosis of leukocytosis
If a person has an elevated white blood cell in the blood, such a disease is called leukocytosis. Lowered is called leukopenia. Leukocytosis is not always an alarming sign of the disease. Even a normal meal can lead to a rise in white blood cells in the blood. Symptoms of leukocytosis also arise from emotional overstrain, during pregnancy and before the onset of menstruation. At the end of stressful situations for the body, the number of blood cells normalizes. A pathologically increased number can signal diseases such as otitis media, meningitis, pneumonia, erysipelas, appendicitis, pleurisy, peritonitis or phlegmon. An increased leukocyte in the blood can also be caused by prolonged use of antibiotics, indicating cancer, diabetes, kidney, lung or spleen diseases, heart attack or diabetic coma. If the number of white blood cells in the urine is elevated, the symptom is called leukocyturia. It usually indicates diseases of the genitourinary system or kidneys and requires careful diagnosis.
Symptoms of Leukocytosis
Sometimes an elevated white blood cell in the blood does not appear after a blood test, but in the form of certain symptoms and ailments. Patients with an excess of white blood cells have to deal with weakness and general discomfort, they often increase body temperature and bruises appear. Symptoms often include excessive sweating, dizziness, and fainting; sometimes patients also notice pain in their legs and arms, impaired vision, and shortness of breath. In addition, an increased white blood cell count may cause a decrease in appetite. As a result, patients have a noticeable weight loss.
Leukocytosis treatment
Once the reasons for the elevated white blood cell count are established, treatment can begin. It must be prescribed and controlled by a doctor. As a rule, an increased number of white blood cells indicates inflammation or infection, so therapy involves the use of antibiotics. If the diagnosis does not reveal obvious causes of leukocytosis, a nutritional correction or therapeutic diet may be necessary to limit protein intake. If the reasons lie in the long-term use of medicines, the selection of drugs must be adjusted.