What does it mean when red blood cells white blood cells and platelets are low?
What does it mean when red blood cells white blood cells and platelets are low?
Pancytopenia (Low Blood Cells) Pancytopenia is marked by low counts of all three types of blood cells—red cells, white cells and platelets. This condition can be caused by certain medications and by infections. In some cases, it is caused by a cancer or precancerous condition.
What can cause low white blood cell count and low platelet count?
What causes a low white blood cell count?
- Cancer (caused by chemotherapy treatments)
- Bone marrow disorders or damage.
- Autoimmune disorders (problems with the immune system in which the body attacks itself), such as lupus.
- Infections (including tuberculosis and HIV)
- Immune system conditions.
- Crohn’s disease.
- Malnutrition.
Should I worry if my white blood count is low?
A low WBC count can be serious because it increases your risk of developing a potentially life-threatening infection. Seek prompt medical care if you have a low WBC count and have signs of an infection, such as a fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or skin lesions.
What is the cause of low white blood cells?
A low WBC count is often linked to problems with the bone marrow and the inability to make enough white blood cells. Autoimmune diseases that attack your white blood cells can also lead to a low WBC count. Several different prescribed drugs, including chemotherapy, are known to decrease WBC production or destroy WBCs.
How to deal with low white blood cells?
Infection: Viruses can affect your bone marrow and cause low WBCs for a while. Severe infections, like blood infections, can lead to your body using up WBCs faster than it can make them. HIV kills a specific kind of white blood cell. Medicines: Some drugs, including antibiotics, can destroy WBCs.
What are the different causes of a low white blood cell count?
Bone marrow problems: The spongy center of your bones,which is called the bone marrow,makes blood cells.
How does low white blood cells affect the human body?
With a low white blood cell count and, in particular, a low level of neutrophils, you’re at higher risk of developing an infection. And if you develop an infection when you have a low white blood cell count, your body can’t protect itself. Infection can lead to death in severe cases.
