Disorders caused by White Blood Cell

White blood cells (WBC) are a part of blood and are also known as leukocytes. WBC acts as the defense system in the body which fights against the foreign substances and infectious organisms. To protect and defend the body against these diseases the count of WBC is very important. Only with sufficient WBCs the body can defend itself against any sort of infections or diseases else it will surrender itself to those diseases.

These white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow of the body. 5 major types of WBC are lymphocytes, neurophils, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils. The production of these white blood cells should range from 4K to 11K cells per microliter. If these white blood cells are produced less or more then it indicates a disorder.

One such disorder is Leukopenia where the production of WBC is lesser that 4K cells per micro-liter. This weakens the body’s defense system and thus these bodies are susceptible to infections and other sort of diseases. Leukocytosis is another disorder caused due to the increased production of white blood cells. The count is more than 11K cells per micro-liter. Most of the disorders of lymphocytes and neurophils are very common whereas disorders which involve eosinophils and monocytes are very rare and disorders involving basophils are even rarer.

Some of the disorders are:

Leukemia: This disorder occurs due to the excess production of White blood cells and this is very dangerous. Neutrophils count is excess and it rushes into the blood stream and starts multiplying. With proper treatment at proper stage can cure the person.

Agranulocytosis: This is a disease caused due to the destruction of the neutrophils. When this disorder is attacked to a person then that person suffers from restlessness, sleeplessness, headache, fatigue, chills, debilitation, sore mouth and throat, high fever and mental confusion with psychologically aberrant behavior.

Infectious Mononucleosis: This disorder is also known as kissing disease or glandular fever. If the lymphocytes count increases then this disorder occurs. When this disease attacks a person, he experiences headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, general weakness feeling and loss of appetite.

Leukopenia: This disorder is not that much severe than agranulocytosis. Here also the WBC production is less than 5K cells. This may be due to some allergic reactions to the drug or some chemical.

Neutropenia: This is a disorder which is also caused due to the less count of WBC that too less neutrophils.

HIV / AIDS: This disorder is a life threatening one which is caused due to HIV virus in the body. If this disease is attacked to the body, it destroys the white blood cells itself which in-turn weakens the body’s defensive system.

Lymphocytopenia: If the production of lymphocytes reduces then this disease occurs. These lead to heredity disorders and chronic infections in the body.

In leukemia there are different types. They are Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Some more diseases related to white blood cells are monocyte disorder and idiopathic hyperepsinophilic syndrome. To encounter with these diseases, a good treatment and a regular WBC check up will help out.