Leukocytosis is a condition characterized by an elevated content of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood. Leukocytes are produced by the bone marrow and are an important component of the human immune system, as they are designed to combat various foreign bodies and pathogenic microorganisms.
Common causes of leukocytosis
The main causes of leukocytosis include:
- infectious diseases - the most common cause;
- chronic inflammatory processes;
- wounds and injuries;
- specific reactions from the immune system - usually observed in people prone to allergies or suffering from autoimmune diseases ;
- disorders in the work of the bone marrow, which produces leukocytes;
- exposure to certain drugs;
- prolonged or sudden stress.
Types of leukocytosis and its causes
Physiological leukocytosis
Relatively safe, most often a short-term form, caused by physiological changes in a healthy body. To the physiological include:
- food leukocytosis (occurs after eating);
- myogenic leukocytosis (observed after heavy muscle loads);
- emotional leukocytosis (occurs due to stress, with intense pain sensations, etc.).
In pregnancy, the cause of leukocytosis is an increased accumulation of white corpuscles in the uterine mucosa, which occurs for additional protection of the embryo from infections.
Pathological leukocytosis
Such leukocytosis is caused by:
- inflammatory processes;
- infectious diseases;
- tumors;
- extensive injuries;
- blood loss and other functional disorders in the body.
Analyzes for leukocytosis
Blood test
Normal values of the level of leukocytes in a person's blood are from 4 to 9 thousand per 1 microliter. Since the produced leukocytes first come into the blood, the cause of leukocytosis in the blood can be any pathological and a number of physiological disorders. A specific disease can be presumed by a doctor, depending on how much the indicators are raised, and what forms of white blood cells prevail.
Analysis of urine
In a healthy person, white blood cells in the urine are either absent or present in a small amount. Their elevated level in this analysis usually indicates infectious diseases of the kidney or urinary tract.
Smears
Usually used to detect an infectious inflammatory process in a specific area from which a smear is taken. Thus the person can and not feel an inflammation, but in the analysis the level of leukocytes will be raised. The causes of leukocytosis in the smear can be:
- Sexual infections;
- erosion of the cervix or inflammation of the uterine appendages in women;
- prostatitis in men;
- cystitis;
- dysbiosis;
- presence of salts and kidney stones .