High white blood cell count (leukocytosis)
A high level of white blood cells isn’t a disease, but it’s a symptom of another problem. Thus, a high level of white blood cells requires further investigations to detect the cause and control it.
Causes of leukocytosis
1- Infection (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic): Elevated white blood cell count may indicate that your immune system fights infection and the bone marrow produces high levels of white blood cells to enhance the immune response.
2- Tumors of blood or bone marrow, such as leukemia: In leukemia, the bone marrow produces a very high number of white blood cells, but they are abnormal leukocytes (leukemia cells), and they are unable to do their function, which increases the risk of infection.
3- Smoking: Inhaled smoke is a foreign body that causes airway inflammation, which increases the level of white blood cells.
4- Immune disorders, including autoimmune diseases (Grave’s disease – chron’s disease)
5- Allergic disorders, such as bronchial asthma
6- Stress (emotional or physical stress) increases the level of white blood cells, but it goes back to the normal level after the end of the stressful event.
7- Trauma and injuries.
These causes may increase the total white blood cell count, but a high count of a specific type may specify the problem, such as the following:
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- High eosinophilic count indicates a parasitic infection or an allergic condition like asthma.
- High lymphocytic count indicates viral infection, tuberculosis, or tumors like some types of leukemia or lymphoma.
- High basophilic count indicates hypothyroidism or other health problems.
Symptoms of high white blood cell count
Patients with leukocytosis don’t have specific symptoms. They only have symptoms of the disease that caused this condition. Thus, if you suffer from any of these conditions, your doctor will investigate the white blood cell count. Non-specific symptoms may occur, such as fever, weight loss, fainting, and general pain.
