What is a bad white blood cell count?

Question

What level is considered bad and why?

What level is considered septic?

Answer 1

A normal white blood cell (leukocyte) count goes from 4,500 to 10,000 cells per microliter of blood. If the decrease in white blood cells is below 4,500 cells per microliter that wouldn't necessarily mean you have a serious illness, though. A dangerously low white blood cell count would be below 2,500 cells per microliter.

Ahh, good times back in Immunology class counting red and white blood cells like our lives depended on it (not 'cause the blood samples were ours, 'cause they weren't, but because we knew how the professor would react if we complained about it).

Answer 2

none at all could mean u could die from the comon cold =]

Answer 3

Watch out: cheberer is INCORRECT.

The range of white blood cell count values depends on age. When you are 6 months old, it should be between 6 and 17.5 x 10^9 / L. When you are 21 years old, it should be between 4.5 and 11. For the pediatric range, go here: http://www.emedicine.com/ped/TOPIC1303.H...

For adults, sepsis occurs when TWO of the following conditions are met:

1. Temperature > 38°C or < 36°C

2. Heart rate > 90 beats/min

3. Respiratory rate > 20 breaths/min or PaCO2 < 32 mm Hg

4. WBC count > 12 x 10^9 / L

A WBC count above 12 does not, by itself, indicate sepsis.

Answer 4

A low count is bad because you are more easily infected.

A high one is bad for 2 reasons: the white cells may attack any foreign body, and damage the cells around it by accident, or it may indicate the presence of a bad infection.

Sorry I can't address the other part of your question.

Answer 5

i dont have the exact measurements, but too high means ur body will try and attack anything foreign, which can be bad especially if what they see as foreign is actually meant to help u. there are certain diseases that make ur wbc higher than normal but im not sure what they r called.

and having it too low is bad caz that means ur body cant protect u against anything and u will become really sick really fast and it will probably become life threatening.  

Answer 6

a normal white blood count (WBC) is in the range 4.8-10.8   TH/MM3 (thousands per millimeter of blood). Anything below or above could indicate that the body has increased its white blood cell count to fight an infection, or it could be explianed in certain cases. Endurance athletes typically have a lower than normal WBC or an elevated WBC if you are on certain medications or have localized inflammation (swelling).

Septic is not necessarilly dependent on a certain WBC count. Being septic means a pathogen has become blood bound or can be found in infectious quantities. Some people become septic with decreased WBCs (people with AIDS).