White Blood Cells: Diseases and Disorders

White blood cells, also called as leukocytes, are an important part of our immune system that play a vital role in defending the body from various infections. There are different types of white blood cells; they are, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. All the white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and are found in the lymph tissues and blood. Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are called as granulocytes. T cells, B cells and natural killer cells are types of lymphocytes. There is a definite life span of white blood cells; it can be 2 weeks to 3 weeks, after which they are destroyed. The number of leukocytes present in the body change with growing age.

Increase or decrease in the number of leukocytes in the blood, leads to different diseases and disorders of white blood cells. Neutropenia, HIV/AIDS and lymphocytopenia are caused due to low white blood cell count, while leukemia is caused due to high white blood cell count. Given below is a brief information on these diseases and disorders of white blood cell:

Neutropenia: Neutrophils contribute to 70% of white blood cells in our body. They help the body to fight with bacterial and fungal infections. Neutropenia is caused due to reduced number of neutrophils in the blood. There are several causes of neutropenia. Side effects of any medication, chemotherapy, any viral infection are some of the causes. Inadequate formation of neutrophils in the bone marrow or destruction of neutrophils in the blood stream, can cause a type of neutropenia called autoimmune neutropenia. Fever or any frequent infection can be symptoms of neutropenia. Neutropenia is diagnosed by finding out the white blood cell count. A normal neutrophil count is 3650, while neutropenia is diagnosed when the neutrophil count is 2000. The treatment for neutropenia depends on the cause. Medications that help grow the number of neutrophils are recommended to such patients. In rare cases, bone marrow transplant is performed.

HIV/AIDS: AIDS is a life-threatening disease that is caused due to HIV virus. The stage when the HIV virus spreads almost all over the body, is referred to as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). The HIV virus attacks and destroys the white blood cells, that are responsible to regulate the immune system. Thus, the immune system of a HIV-infected person becomes very weak. These viruses are present in the blood and sexual fluids. Thus, unprotected sex with the HIV-infected person is the most common cause. An infected mother can pass the HIV virus to her child, via breast feeding or during the childbirth. These days, the infection to the child can be prevented with the help of proper treatment. HIV does not show any symptoms, in its early stages. Neither is there any vaccine that can prevent HIV infection nor any treatment that can cure it. Safety measures are the only way to avoid getting infected from HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

Lymphocytopenia: Reduced number of lymphocytes in the blood leads to lymphocytopenia. Chronic infections, hereditary disorders are some of the causes of the disease. The treatment is given depending upon the cause.

Leukemia: Leukemia, also referred to as blood cancer, is a group of diseases that is caused due to increased number of cells in the blood. Uncontrolled growth of any white blood cell leads to leukemia. Most of the leukemias are caused due to high white blood cell count. The bone marrow produces a large number of immature white blood cells that cannot function properly. Lymphocytic leukemias are caused due to increased number of lymphocytes. The causes that lead to growth in the number of immature cells is still unknown.The following is a list of different types of leukemia that occur due to increased white blood cells in the blood:

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Leukemia patients are susceptible to any kind of infection. Their immune system is not capable of fighting against infection. Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant are some of the treatments given for leukemia.

Eosinophilia, monocyte disorders, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome are some other diseases related to white blood cells. Leukocytes are vital cells of our body, diseases and disorders of which, can lead to fatal consequences. A regular white blood count can help to give timely treatment to the patient and reduce the symptoms to a great extent.