Having a low white blood cell WBC count, also known as leukopenia , means that your body is not making enough of these immune system cells that help fight off infections.
A number of conditions and certain medications can cause a low white blood cell count. White blood cells defend your body against foreign pathogens. Therefore, having a low WBC count puts you at a higher risk of contracting infections, which recent research has shown includes coronavirus disease COVID In this article, we'll discuss the link between the two and how white blood cells are affected by COVID.
White blood cells are a type of immune cell. They are created in the bone marrow , the spongy part of your bones, and can be found in blood and in tissues that support the immune system, which are known as lymph tissues.
There are several types of white blood cells, and each plays a role in fighting infection and disease in the body:. If your WBC count is higher than normal, this could indicate an infection or inflammation. A low WBC count signals a problem with your immune system.
This is a common problem in people living with cancer or taking medications that suppress the immune system. Typical reference ranges for a WBC count are:. Lymphocytes circulate throughout your body, and create antibodies, proteins released to fight pathogens, to help your immune system fight infections.
B cells focus on attacking invading viruses and bacteria, while T-cells destroy the body's own cells that have been damaged by things like viruses or cancer. It means that their immune systems are doing a good job of keeping the coronavirus in check by creating antibodies and destroying damaged cells. This can be because the levels of some types of WBCs like neutrophils are higher as the body fights off the virus, while levels of lymphocytes remain low.
COVID symptoms can include:. There are no actual symptoms of a low white blood cell count, but people who have a low WBC count can develop various symptoms due to infections that their bodies are not able to fight off. People with the following conditions typically have low WBC counts:. More specifically, though, people who have low levels of lymphocytes have a condition called lymphocytopenia or lymphopenia. It occurs when your body doesn't make enough of these blood cells.
It can also be acquired, such as in people with AIDS. Symptoms of diseases that can cause a low white blood cell count like HIV, cancer treatment, and uncontrolled diabetes can include:. I am a 22 year old male, weighing approximately and am 6 feet tall.
In mid-July I was started to feel a lot of discomfort in my stomach and abdominal area along with nausea, bloating, and constipation. It got worse after eating. All the symptoms left in early August but then came back in early September. So, I went to my family care doctor and he ex-rayed my stomach to show that there was air in my colon.
He then referred me to a gastroenterologist. The only thing that came back wrong was a low white blood cell count. Everything was normal and good except that my white blood cell count values were low from 2.
Through much of October and early November my symptoms went away again except for the fatigue but now I am experiencing much of the same symptoms again. As of last week I was referred to a hematologist and he took my blood in four or five tubes. I go back in mid-December to see what he says. The hematologist also asked me to go to a gi doctor while I wait so I did today. My gastrointestinal doctor said it was mostly out of his hands because all my blood tests only show a low white blood cell count.
So, he put me on two medicines to help me use the restroom 2 more frequently. I am quite nervous about what it could be because at this point I have no clue. Any help is appreciated. Posted 4 years ago. I am sorry to hear about this. I also have a low blood count and was trying to find out what was causing it, so after about five years a new doctor recommended a bone marrow test. That test revealed I had cll leukemia.
Then Iater on I started a rash and I am still trying to find out the cause of that. My allergy test revealed that I am highly allergic. What I did that really help me was to change my diet. I stopped eating processed sugar, drink plenty of water, exercise daily and eliminated gluten.
This has helped be feel much better. Although oral contraceptives typically do not cause neutropenia, it would be worthwhile to discuss your concerns about the pill with your health care provider and review other medications you may be taking to see if one of them could be the cause of your low white blood cell count. Neutropenia also may be triggered by an underlying medical disorder, including viral infections — such as hepatitis B , hepatitis C , cytomegalovirus and HIV — and sepsis, an overwhelming bloodstream infection that uses up neutrophils faster than they can be produced.
Vitamin deficiencies; enlarged spleen; and bone marrow cancers, such as leukemia , myelodysplastic syndromes and myelofibrosis , may cause neutropenia. Adults who have rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders can develop neutropenia as a complication of those conditions. Radiation therapy to the bone marrow may result in neutropenia, too. Talk to your health care provider about what your low white blood cell count might mean.
Monocytes help get rid of dead or damaged tissue and regulate the body's immune response. Eosinophils are disease-fighting white blood cells.
Basophils play a role in wound healing, infection and allergic reactions. 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. For most people, there is no long-term effect from this temporary drop in blood cells. Certain medications may also lead to a low white blood cell count because they can destroy white blood cells or damage the bone marrow.
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