What Is A Low White Blood Cell Count Mean

Camila Farah

Even within the normal range every one point drop may be associated with a 20 drop in the risk of premature death. Autoimmune disorders that destroy white blood cells or bone marrow cells. A low wbc count is referred to medically as leukopenia.

Leukopenia is almost always related to a decrease in a certain type of white blood cell neutrophil.

Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow. Viral infections that temporarily disrupt the work of bone marrow. Cancer treatment like radiotherapy. Certain disorders present at birth congenital that involve diminished bone marrow function.

A low white blood cell count usually is caused by. Some cancers like leukaemia. It can increase your risk of getting infections. A low white blood cell wbc count is a decreased number of white blood cells leukocytes in the blood.

So there s an exponential increase in risk as white count goes up even within the so called normal range. A low number is. A short term low white blood cell count is usually due to acute neutropenia a short period of time in which absolute number of neutrophils in the blood are low. The definition of low white blood cell count varies from one medical practice to another.

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What causes a low white blood cell count. People with lower white blood cell counts live longer. Medicine for an overactive thyroid. A low white blood cell count usually means your body is not making enough white blood cells.

A blood test that shows a wbc count of less than 4 000 per microliter some labs say less than 4 500 could mean your body may not be able to fight infection the way it should. This is a log scale. A low white blood cell count leukopenia is a decrease in disease fighting cells leukocytes in your blood. In general for adults a count lower than 4 000.

Wbcs which are produced in the bone marrow are an important part of your immune system and your body s natural weapon to fight off bacteria viruses and other germs. A acute neutropenia is usually due to high neutrophil use in the body or low neutrophil production which are common when your body is fighting off an infection.