HAEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS
White Blood Cell Disorders
White blood cell disorders occur when you have too many or too few white blood cells. White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are one of three types of cells that compose the blood. They are produced in the bone marrow and play an important role in your immune system.
Doctors can measure these cells with a test called a white blood cell (WBC) count. When white blood cells are abnormally high, it usually suggests that your immune system is fighting a disease or infection. When they are too low, it suggests that a disease, autoimmune disorder, or other condition has weakened your immune system.
While you cannot diagnose any medical condition based on a white blood cell count, the test can often be the first sign of a disease and even hint at what kind of disease you have.
A disorder refers to any condition that disrupts the normal functioning of the body. White blood cell disorders fall into quantitative or qualitative disorders. The first means that normal cells appear in abnormal numbers; the second means the cells themselves have changed.
These disorders manifest in ways that include:
Leukopenia: A decrease in white blood cells, which can be caused by cells being destroyed or by not enough cells being made
Leukocytosis: An increase in white blood cells, which can be a normal response of the immune system but also caused by certain cancerous or non-cancerous diseases
There are also five major types of white blood cells, each of which has a specific function:
Monocytes: Frontline defenders that attack anything the immune system considers abnormal
Lymphocytes: Blood cells that produce immune proteins called antibodies that target and fight specific disease-causing organisms
Neutrophils: Blood cells that mainly fight bacterial infections
Eosinophils: Blood cells that mainly fight parasitic infections
Basophils: Blood cells that help trigger inflammation to fight infections, diseases, or toxins
Some diseases only affect one type of white blood cell, while others affect many. For instance, lymphocytic leukocytosis only affects lymphocytes, while neutrophilic leukocytosis only affects neutrophils. The type of cells affected can help doctors figure out what type of condition they are dealing with.za
Causes
There are many different causes of white blood cell disorders. Some are due to a severe infection, an autoimmune disease, genetics, or cancers affecting blood cells or bone marrow.
Others are treatment-related or are caused by problems with other types of blood cells, such as red blood cells. Some are entirely idiopathic, meaning of unknown origin.
Some of the more common reasons for leukopenia include infections (pneumonia among them) or the side effects of certain medications, such as antithyroid drugs. Malnutrition, with low levels of vitamin B12, folic acid, or copper, also can lead to leukopenia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of white blood cell disorders can vary based on the underlying cause, although some people may be asymptomatic (without symptoms). If symptoms develop, they can often be non-specific. There can even be an overlap in symptoms between leukopenia and leukocytosis.
Leukopenia
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Sweating
A general feeling of unwellness
Mouth or skin sores
Body aches
Cough
Sore throat
Trouble breathing
Leukocytosis
Fever
Bleeding or bruising
Fatigue
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Sweating
Pain or tingling in the legs, arms, or abdomen
Vision problems
Unclear thinking
Loss of appetite
Trouble breathing
Treatments
The physician first rules out the type and cause of wbc cell disorder. After this the patients history is taken in detail regarding the signs and symptoms he/she is suffering from. This complete data helps the doctor to treat the patient.
Homeopathy works best in such patients. As homeopathy works wonderfully on whole haematological system of body it helps in treating these conditions very well. Be the cause of wbc cell disorder vary from simple infection or malignancy homeopathy has huge scope.
Few homeopathic medications which help in these conditions are Lachesis, ferrum metallicum, pyrogenium etc.
