my wbc is 3.8

my wbc is 3.8

A white blood cell count of less than 4 x 109/L indicates leukopenia. Therefore, if my wbc is 3.8, it means I have leukopenia, which may result from:

– HIV/AIDS

– autoimmune disorders

– bone marrow disorders or damage

– lymphoma

– severe infections

– liver and spleen diseases, such as an enlarged spleen

– lupus

– radiation therapy

– some medications, such as chemotherapy and antibiotics

– alcoholism

– malaria (5)

If my wbc is 3.8, it may put me at an increased risk of infection. Therefore, it’s better to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

* You can enter your lab test results online and get a personalized interpretation, including your condition in each test, definition, reasons for increased or decreased results, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, potential treatments, drug interactions, etc.

White blood cells (WBCs)

White blood cells (WBCs) are central to the innate and adaptive immune system, serving to mitigate infectious, traumatic, and malignant insults. WBC count is a test that measures the number of white blood cells in your body. This test is often included with a complete blood count (CBC), which is commonly used to screen for different conditions that may affect your overall health (1,2).

Normal value ranges of WBC may vary slightly among different labs, but generally include:

· Newborn Infant                                          13–38      10 9 /L

· 2-week-old infant                                       5–20        10 9 /L

· Adult                                                             4.5–11     10 9 /L   (3)

Anything below this range is leukopenia, and anything that exceeds this range qualifies as leukocytosis (4).

Abnormal results

Leukocytosis, or high white blood count, is most often due to relatively benign conditions, such as infections or inflammatory processes. However, sometimes a high WBC count indicates much less common but more serious disorders, such as leukemia. Other causes may include:

– fever

– injury or burn

– pregnancy

– allergies

– asthma

– a recent vaccination

– some medications, such as corticosteroids, epinephrine, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs

– stress

– tissue damage

– acute hemolysis

– hemorrhage

– leukemoid reaction

– heart attack

– surgery (5,6)

References:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128216712000027
2. https://www.healthline.com/health/wbc-count
3. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/1201/p1004.html?_ga=2.235351745.1388295472.1577058547-660305364.1508107192#afp20151201p1004-t1
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563148/#:~:text=The%20normal%20range%20of%20values,this%20range%20qualifies%20as%20leukocytosis.
5. https://www.healthline.com/health/wbc-count#high-and-low-wbc-count
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11087187/