White blood cells
White Blood Cells are defined as a group of cells that form inside the bone marrow (Bone Marrow), which are then distributed in the blood. They are a major part of the immune system in the body and play an important role in protecting the body from Infections that may arise as a result of the entry of bacteria, viruses, or other microbes.
White blood cells
White blood cells differ in their characteristics and number, and the total number in healthy adults is between 4000-11000 cells per microliter. These cells are divided into five main types:
- Neutrophils (Neutrophils) : They are between 2500-7500 cells per μl, characterized by multicolored nuclei within them, as well as the presence of small grains of pale pink color in the Cytoplasm (Cytoplasm), and specializes in protecting the body against acute infection, specifically infection caused by bacteria and fungi.
- Lymphocytes : The number of between 1500 to 3500 cells per μl, and is characterized as a single nucleus with blue cytoplasm, may contain cytoplasm on the granules, and the lymphocytes form the line of defense against chronic infection and viral infection.
- Monocytes : They are between 200-800 cells per μl, characterized by a single folded nucleus. The color of the cytoplasm varies between blue and gray, and can contain some gaps and grains. Its function is to fight chronic infection.
- Acid cells (Eosinophils) : The number of between 40-400 cells per μl, characterized by the nucleus of double lobes, in addition to the presence of large pink grains inside the cytoplasm, and activate these cells when allergic and parasitic infection.
- Basophils : The number of between 10-100 cells per μl, characterized by the nucleus of double lobes, and contains the cytoplasm of the large grains ranging between black and brown, and activate these cells when the sensitivity.
Causes of high blood white blood cells
The increase in the number of white blood cells from the normal limit in the blood is one of the indicators of the body’s response to infection or allergies, and there are many diseases that increase the number of white blood cells, including the following:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) is defined as a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, often affecting adults. It is a non-understood disease. Doctors believe that there is a genetic mutation in DNA that produces Abnormal lymphocytes, hence the name of this type of cancer in the name of lymphatic, and signs and symptoms that may appear on the patient of chronic lymphocytic leukemia fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, in addition to the swelling of the lymph nodes, may be exposed to a number of patients Fat as an increase risk of injury and other cancers, except for problems in the body’s immune system.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks the body’s joints, causing pain and swelling around the affected joint, which is characterized by the rise of white blood cells in the blood.
- Tuberculosis Tuberculosis is a contagious and serious disease that affects the lungs in general. The disease can be transmitted from one person to another through droplets of sneezing or coughing. Although there is a vaccine for tuberculosis, it remains the leading cause of death among infectious diseases in the world, with one in three people infected, according to WHO statistics. The patient who has signs of the disease suffers from general fatigue, loss of appetite, cough, except for fever, and loss of weight in an unjustified manner.
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia Chronic myelogenous leukemia (chronic myelogenous leukemia) is a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, causing the body to produce white blood cells more than normal and do not work properly.
- Polycythemia vera.
- Bacterial and viral infections.
- Myelofibrosis.
- Physical and emotional stress.
- Smoking.
The increase may be caused by the body’s response to certain drugs, such as:
- Beta adrenergic agonists.
- Corticosteroids (Corticosteroids).
- Epinephrine.
- Heparin.
- Lithium.
Causes of low blood white blood cells
There may be a decrease in the number of white blood cells due to several conditions, diseases or general health disorders, including the following:
- Aplastic anemia.
- Chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
- Kostmann’s syndrome, one of the congenital defects in which hypoproteinemia occurs.
- Hypersplenism: In this case, the spleen destroys blood cells before the desired time.
- Lupus (Lupus).
- Malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies.
- Autoimmune disorders.
- Myelodysplastic syndromes syndrome.
Drugs that reduce the number of white blood cells in the blood include:
- Antibiotics.
- Anticonvulsants.
- Antithyroid drugs (Antithyroid drugs).
- Diuretics.
- Arsenic compounds (arsenicals).
- Captopril (Captopril).
- Chlorpromazine (Chlorpromazine).
- Clozapine.
- Histamine-2 blockers.
- Sulfonamides.
- Quinidine.
- Terbinafine.
- Ticlopidine.