Recognizing excess white blood cells in babies & bull; hello healthy

Leukocytosis is a condition in which the number of white blood cells increases more than normal. This usually occurs in someone who is sick and even in babies, when an elevated white blood cell can be a sign of the body's response to fighting infection.

This condition is not always dangerous, but in rare cases it can lead to complications which, if experienced by the baby, can affect the growth of his organs. So, what are the causes of high white blood cells in babies?

What are the normal levels of white blood cells in babies?

Source: VeryWellHealth

From the standards set by the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP), a newborn is said to have normal white blood cells if the number is still in the range of 13,000 - 38,000 / mm3.

Whereas in infants and children the normal level is 5,000 - 20,000 / mm3. If it exceeds the maximum limit, it can be said that the baby has leukocytosis.

There are five different types of leukocytosis conditions, including the following:

Neutrophilia: Neutrophils are white blood cells that can destroy bacteria and fungi that eat about 40 - 60% of all white blood cells. This excess of neutrophils is the most common type of leukocytosis.
Lymphocytosis: lymphocytes produce antibodies that can protect the body from bacteria, viruses, and various other health threats.
Monocytosis: excess monocytes that function to destroy germs or bacteria that enter the body.
Eosinophilia: excess eosinophils which serve as destroyers of parasites and cancer cells.
Basophilia: excess basophils which function to enter a chemical through the bloodstream to fight allergies.

What causes high white blood cells in babies?

In newborns, excess white blood cells can be caused by various conditions that start to appear during pregnancy.

Some of these include late clamping of the umbilical cord and can also be caused by an inherited disease from the parents. Mothers who have gestational diabetes are also at risk of giving birth to babies with excess white blood cells.

Some conditions, such as neonatal sepsis, can also cause white blood cells to spike high. Neonatal sepsis is a blood infection that affects infants less than 90 days old. In newborns, this condition can be seen in the first week of life.

Neonatal sepsis can be caused by bacteria such as E coli, listeria, and some streptococci. As explained above, the body will produce white blood cells to fight infection. This resistance to bacteria can trigger leukocytosis.

Besides, baby down syndrome also at risk of experiencing leukocytosis or neutrophilia, a condition in which white blood cells can reach 40 to 60 percent in the body. Usually this condition appears during the postnatal period.

Another factor is the lack of oxygen delivered to the tissues in the fetus.

In some cases the leukocytosis is temporary, but it can also lead to the risk of acute leukemia.

Excess white blood cells in babies can also cause hyperviscosity syndrome, in which blood cannot flow smoothly in the arteries due to the presence of one of the excess blood cells.

If this happens, how will it be handled?

In fact, white blood cells can return to normal again after the conditions that caused them disappear, one of which is when recovering from a fever.

To reduce the thickness of the white blood cells while eliminating hydration, you may be advised to breastfeed your baby more frequently. If the baby does not want to respond to breastfeeding, intravenous fluids may be an option.

However, if the excess white blood cells are causing problems such as hyperviscosity, your doctor may recommend a partial exchange transfusion.

Especially if the hyperviscosity condition in the baby is severe, a partial exchange transfusion procedure should be performed.

Through this procedure, a small number of blood cells are slowly removed and a liquid medication is inserted that will reduce the total white blood cell count. This is done so that the blood viscosity is reduced and the blood can flow smoothly.