How do white blood cells behave in pneumonia?
The white blood cells, known as leukocytes , fight pathogens in the human organism. When there is inflammation within the body, the number of white blood cells increases . The doctor speaks of a leukocytosis . There is a high concentration of leukocytes in lung inflammation (pneumonia). The white blood cells react to the viruses that cause the disease. To fight them, more leukocytes form than usual. This particularly affects the scavenger cells .
White blood cells multiply in pneumonia
The leukocytes in pneumonia are greatly increased. They clearly exceed the normal value of white blood cells. In the case of inflammation, their quantity is more than 10,000 per milliliter of blood. In this case, doctors speak of leukocytosis . The leukocyte count in pneumonia increases immediately after the onset of the disease. The human organism reacts to inflammatory markers that point to them.
Pneumonia is a pathological irritation of the organ. Viruses or bacteria usually cause the disease. In both cases – viral or bacterial pneumonia – the relevant organ malfunctions. Especially with the bacterial form of the disease, the patient soon suffers from leukocytosis. Already after the infestation of the pathogen, the number of leukocytes increases in pneumonia.
In addition to the sharp increase in white blood cells, the doctors notice an accelerated rate of blood cell settling in the patient. Just like the high concentration of white blood cells, the physicians recognize this aspect from a complete blood count . A differential blood count shows which leukocytes occur in excess. In the case of pneumonia, the granulocytes , known as scavenger cells, increase significantly.
Leukopenia in pneumonia
In the early stages of pneumonia, the number of white blood cells increases sharply. As the disease progresses, the number rapidly decreases to leukopenia. The white blood cells are ultimately below the normal range. This means that the laboratory technicians count less than 4,000 leukocytes in one milliliter of blood.
The dwindling concentration of leukocytes in pneumonia results from the weaker post-production of white blood cells. Especially in the case of a long-lasting or severe course of the disease, the organism produces fewer leukocytes over time. The supply of white blood cells is exhausted. This is often due to the fact that there are too many pathogens in the blood. In addition to the bacteria, for example:
- Mushrooms,
- foreign body
- or viruses.
Patients affected by viral pneumonia also suffer from leukopenia. The pathogens responsible for the disease multiply rapidly within the body. The organism reacts to this immediately with a high concentration of white blood cells. The amount remains constant for a few days before the number of leukocytes falls in pneumonia.
Leukocytes in the atypical disease
With an atypical course of pneumonia, there is no change in the level of leukocytes. In a full blood count , doctors can see that the number of white blood cells is within the normal range. This means that there are 4,500 to 10,000 white blood cells in one milliliter of blood. Pneumonia is diagnosed solely on the basis of the symptoms that occur. The blood count usually gives little information about the atypical form of the disease.
However, in many cases of atypical pneumonia there is an increase in lymphocytes, a form of white blood cells. Their formation occurs in the lymphatic systems and the lungs. When the organ becomes inflamed, malfunctions occur. These are accompanied, for example, by an increase in lymphocytes.
Left shift at pneumonia
If the patients suffer from pneumonia, the doctors recognize a left shift in a blood count . This indicates a faulty production of white blood cells. In this case, there are several precursors of leukocytes in the blood of those affected. The shift to the left usually occurs only with bacterial pneumonia.
Another special feature is cold pneumonia. It indicates that the patient neither has a fever nor changes the number of leukocytes. This makes it difficult to diagnose the infection. In many cases, sufferers mistake the disease for a common cold.
The leukocytes in pneumonia summarized
A large blood count proves the increase in leucocytes in pneumonia . Leukocytosis occurs specifically in the bacterial form of the disease. The number of white blood cells rises well above the normal value. With a long course of the disease, the concentration of white blood cells decreases. Leukopenia also occurs with viral pneumonia, for example.
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