Low white cell blood count?

Hi, I'm 19 and I had a blood test over a month ago that indicated an abnormality in my blood count, but the doctor was unsure what it was. I then repeated a blood test one month later and the results showed that I had a slightly low white blood count.

What does it mean when it's only a SlIGHTLY low white blood cell count as I'm aware of some serious implications if your white blood cell count is very low

also i would like to add that I have had no colds or infections in the past two months, but have certainly been feeling quite down with possible signs of depression, would this affect my low white blood count?

thanks : )

The normal adult range for a total white count is 4500-10,000. If yours was, say, 4300, that would be slightly low and nothing to be worried about. Slightly low is not the same as a critical low. If this had been the case, the lab would have phoned your doctor to report this. All critical lows must be phoned to the doctor. Except for feeling blue, you say you feel fine. Depression won't decrease your white count.

Now some people here are talking about anemia. It's possible that you have a mild anemia. However, you should know that there is more than one kind of anemia. Most people think that iron-deficiency anemia is the only type and that iron supplements are the answer to all anemias. They would be wrong. Iron-deficiency anemia concerns the red cells, not the white. Decreased levels in white cells can be due to aplastic anemia and pernicious anemia. These two affect the red cells along with the white. There are other types of anemias as well. And there are other conditions that decrease the white count but they may not apply to you.

To give you peace of mind, contact your doctor and ak if there's anything that she/he recommends at this time. And if you need a little help with the blues, try talking to a friend. It may help.

Enemia? Not life threatening.

Infections would be likely to RAISE your white cell count, not lower it. If it's only slightly low, it's probably nothing to worry about.

If it's only slightly low it probably isn't anything to be too concerned about. My blood is all messed up including having low white blood cells. They are crazy low so I just have to have it checked from time to time and definitely let my doctor or hematologist know if I don't feel good.

your anemic! eat high protein foods and take vitamins!

hope you get well soon!

Did your doctor tell you what count you actually had. The normal range is between 3.7 and 10.5 - quite a wide range but anything between this is considered normal. Your bloods will change on a day to day basis - I have had slightly low counts before without any problems. Other blood counts would have been taken at the same time (red blood cell count, platelets etc) so, if these are normal then I am sure your GP felt that there was nothing to worry about. I have just had a full blood test and my bilirubin is high however, as all of my other liver function tests are within range, the GP was not concerned - I could have the same test in a month and it would be back down again! That is the human body for you!. Relax - worrying about this will make things worse. Perhaps you should go back in another month for a re-test.

Absolutely. A low white blood cell count doesn't make you ill, it just means that your immune system is weak, and will have a difficult time fighting germs if you come in contact with any. And a depressed immune system will make you feel under the weather. Not to worry, you're not alone. I have been feeling the same way. I did my research, in addition to visiting my GP, and I have been taking immune boosting supplements. I feel a million times better, I have been taking them for a few weeks only, so I'm not 100%, but I feel much better than I did before. This is where I found my supplements. Hope this helps you. It can't hurt to look, right? Be well.

my wife has the same problem ,
it is possibly anemia ,like you she doesn't have many colds
or health problems but things do get her down and she is depressed. she is thinking of giving u p her job which she liked and is very good at , my question to you do you eat
enough fresh green vegetables .
i think lack of Iron in the diet causes this problem

Firstly depression has no effect on the blood count. Assuming other significant but rare problems have been excluded, the commonest cause of white cell suppression is after a viral illness.

Sometimes this diagnosis can be supported, but not proven by checking immunoglobulin levels and finding suppression there also. Assuming your GP is happy that this is the cause, the only management is observation and periodic repeats of blood count. I have seen this problem take more than a year to resolve. It does not produce any symptoms in itself, but may render the patient slightly more susceptible to further infections.