An increase in white blood cells - is it good or bad? The answer to this and many other questions you will find in my article.

Lymphocytes are a special kind of leukocytes that provide our body with immune defense. In the cells of lymphocytes there are special sensors that react momentarily to foreign substances. Entering the blood leukocyte group, lymphocytes have some differences. They are able to simply percolate into the tissue and again return to the blood. Life expectancy of lymphocytes is much greater than in all other leukocytes. If the leukocytes live only a few days, then the cells of lymphocytes, in comparison with them, are "long-livers". Lymphocytes can live for several months and even up to 20 and more years. In the human blood, the lymphocyte content ranges from 20 to forty percent.

The main function and purpose of lymphocytes is immune defense and surveillance. Not by chance, lymphocytes are called the "army" of our immunity.

As in any army are different groups of troops, and lymphocytes are different. Among them, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, NK-lymphocytes, so-called "natural killers". Any of these types of lymphocytes play an important role in providing immune protection.

The usual content of lymphocytes in 1 ?l of blood is 1200-3000. In the case where the lymphocyte content in the blood exceeds 4000 (in the general blood count card this is recorded as> 4,000 / ?L or> 4,000 / mm3 or> 4. 0 x 10 (9) / L), this is called lymphocytosis. In other words, lymphocytosis is when the lymphocytes in the blood are enlarged.

The premise that the lymphocytes in the blood are increased, usually, are different infections. For example, flu, pertussis, measles, chicken pox and many others. But, there are also lymphocytosis caused by non-infectious causes, for example, a disease such as acquired lymphocytosis.

Having learned that the lymphocytes in the blood are raised, you need to know the nature of this pathology. Depending on their origin, reactive and malignant lymphocytosis.

Reactive lymphocytosis is a reaction of the body to any infection, it is a common occurrence for the immune system of our body. Relevant for reactive lymphocytosis is a decrease in the lymphocyte count in the blood to their normal rate for the second to third day after the exacerbation of the disease.

In some cases, post-infection lymphocytosis. The contagious disease that caused the increase in lymphocytes is already stopped, and the lymphocyte content in the blood is still kept at a very high level.

Malignant lymphocytosis is a severe blood disease, it is usually accompanied by various kinds of leukemia. With all this disease, lymphocytes in the blood are constantly increased.

On the basis of only the first blood test, of course, malignant lymphocytosis is difficult to detect.

Therefore, if there are suspicions on the development of this severe disease, it is worthwhile to constantly observe a specialist - a hematologist, also undergo an all-encompassing medical examination. You should not save money on not bad products, which will allow you to get healthier in the shortest time.

Lymphocytes in the blood are increased not only with the development of infectious diseases, but also with acquired diseases, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, viral hepatitis.

Health. Sumy. Ua.

Keywords:.