Does low white blood count mean viral infection?
Does low white blood count mean viral infection?
A low white blood cell count usually is caused by: Viral infections that temporarily disrupt the work of bone marrow. Certain disorders present at birth (congenital) that involve diminished bone marrow function. Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow.
Does low white blood cell count mean compromised immune system?
When you have a low white blood cell count, your immune system isn’t working as well as it should. Doctors call this “immunocompromised.” If you’re immunocompromised, you have a higher risk of getting sick from a bacterium or virus that doesn’t affect people with a healthy immune system.
What happens to your white blood cell count when you have a viral infection?
When you get sick, your body makes more white blood cells to fight the bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances causing your illness. This increases your white blood count. Other diseases can cause your body to make fewer white blood cells than you need. This lowers your white blood count.
What is a viral infection?
A viral infection is a proliferation of a harmful virus inside your body. Viruses cannot reproduce without the assistance of a host. Viruses infect a host by introducing their genetic material into the cells and hijacking the cell’s internal machinery to make more virus particles.
What vitamin deficiency can cause low white blood count?
WBCs are an important part of your immune system. They help your body fight off diseases and infections. If you have too few WBCs, you have a condition known as leukopenia….Leukopenia can be caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies, such as deficiencies in:
- vitamin B12.
- folate.
- copper.
- zinc.
Is WBC low with Covid?
Low white blood cell counts have been found to contribute to severe disease and death in people with COVID. While you may not be able to prevent a low WBC count, you can take steps to prevent a COVID infection.
What would cause a low white blood cell count?
Underlying causes for a low white blood cell count can range from benign disorders, such as vitamin deficiencies, to more serious blood diseases, such as leukemia or lymphoma. A truly low white blood cell count also puts you at higher risk for infections — typically bacterial infections. But viral infections also may be a concern.
What can cause low white cell count?
Many diseases can cause leukopenia due to damage of the bone marrow, but low white blood cell counts can also be caused by drugs and laboratory errors. White blood cells may be destroyed during a course of radiation therapy or chemotherapy, and the count typically remains low until treatment has been completed.
Does viral infection lower white blood count?
One of the most common causes of a low white blood cell count is a viral infection. These infections can sometimes temporarily disrupt the bone marrow’s production of blood cells, so blood cell counts drop. The counts typically rebound as the body recovers from the infection.
