What happens if wbc count decreased

Without an adequate white blood cell response available to fight infection, the body is at greater risk that any infection including those usually regarded as minor may cause serious illness or death. Risk of infection is an even greater concern for a patient whose immunity is already compromised for some reason. One example of this is a low neutrophil count neutrophils are a type of white blood cell involved in fighting bacterial infection caused by the effect of cancer chemotherapy on the bone marrow.

Where this is the case, treatments may need to be rescheduled to allow recovery of the white cell count and medications may be given to stimulate the growth of neutrophils to help maintain adequate levels. Since leukopenia is itself asymptomatic and chronic infection may go unrecognised because of failure to mount a symptomatic response, immunocompromised patients will usually have a periodic blood count to monitor their white cell count along with other regular health checks.

Cancer may be in the bone marrow, causing fewer neutrophils to be made. The WBC count can also go down when cancer is treated with chemotherapy drugs, which slow bone marrow production of healthy WBCs. When your blood is tested, ask for your WBC count and specifically, your neutrophil count. If your counts are low, do what you can to prevent infections.

Know the signs of infection and what to do if you have them. American Cancer Society website. Infections in people with cancer: why people with cancer are more likely to get infections. Updated March 13, Accessed July 30 2, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Preventing infections in cancer patients. Updated November 10, Accessed July 30, Create a profile for better recommendations. Breast implant illness BII is a term that some women and doctors use to refer to a wide range Sign up for emails about breast cancer news, virtual events, and more.

Subscribe to our podcast for conversations on the issues that matter most. Join our online community to connect, share, and find peer support. Sometimes a lower dose of chemotherapy drugs is given to lessen the impact on white blood cell counts and reduce the risk of further delays in treatment.

Report any symptoms of infection to your doctor or healthcare team. Do not take any medicines for a fever without checking first with the healthcare team. This is one of the most effective ways of avoiding infection. Wash your hands often during the day, especially before eating and after going to the bathroom. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer to clean your hands if a sink is not available.

Clean the anal area gently but thoroughly after a bowel movement. Take a warm, instead of hot, shower every day. Hot showers can dry out the skin. Gently pat skin dry rather than rubbing it briskly.

If your skin becomes dry or cracked, use moisturizing lotions to soften it and help it heal. The healthcare team or pharmacist can suggest lotions. Wear rubber gloves when doing dishes, cleaning or gardening.

Use cuticle cream or cuticle remover instead of tearing or cutting the cuticles. Do not squeeze or scratch pimples. Use an electric shaver instead of a razor to avoid cutting the skin. Be especially careful to avoid burns when ironing or cooking. Clean any cut or scrape at once with warm water and soap. Whenever possible, get enough rest, eat a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids and get regular exercise. If you have low blood cell counts, take steps to protect yourself.

Stay away from anyone who has a cold, the flu or an infectious disease like chicken pox, mumps, measles or shingles. Talk to the healthcare team about vaccinations.

Depending on the type of cancer treatment, some vaccinations should be given while others should be avoided. Avoid contact with anyone who has been recently immunized with live virus vaccines, such as those for chicken pox, polio or measles. Avoid crowds, such as those in shopping malls or on buses while blood counts are low. Follow precautions for food safety. Cook vegetables and wash and peel fruit to get rid of bacteria on their surfaces.

Avoid uncooked eggs, raw or undercooked meats, poultry, fish and seafood. These foods can contain harmful organisms. Live plants can be a source of germs. Remove plants from the living area. Avoid cleaning cat litter boxes or birdcages. Check with the healthcare team if any precautions should be taken during sexual activity when white blood cell counts are low. Home Treatments Side effects Low white blood cell count.