What infection is caused by elevated white blood cells?
Elevated white blood cells (leukocytosis) is a common laboratory abnormality in clinical practice, which usually indicates the presence of infection, inflammation or other pathological conditions in the body. This article will combine the hot medical topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze in detail the common causes of infection, related symptoms and countermeasures for elevated white blood cells, and provide structured data for reference.
1. Common types of infections with elevated white blood cells

White blood cells are an important part of the human immune system, and increases in their numbers are often associated with the following infections:
| Type of infection | common pathogens | Typical symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| bacterial infection | Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, etc. | Fever, local redness and swelling, purulent discharge |
| viral infection | Influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, etc. | Sore throat, muscle aches, rash (some viruses) |
| fungal infection | Candida albicans, Aspergillus | More common in people with low immunity, accompanied by fever and organ involvement |
| parasitic infection | Plasmodium, roundworm | Abdominal pain, diarrhea, elevated eosinophils |
2. Clinical significance of white blood cell differential count
Elevations of different leukocyte subtypes can indicate different directions of infection:
| white blood cell type | Increase meaning | Reference value (adult) |
|---|---|---|
| neutrophils | Acute bacterial infection, trauma | 40%-75% |
| Lymphocytes | Viral infection, tuberculosis | 20%-50% |
| monocytes | Chronic infection (such as endocarditis) | 3%-10% |
| eosinophils | parasites, allergies | 0.5%-5% |
3. Analysis of recent hotspot related cases
According to recent hotly discussed medical cases on the Internet, the following two infections require special attention:
1.suppurative tonsillitis: Mostly caused by streptococcal infection, with significantly elevated neutrophils, accompanied by high fever and sore throat, requiring antibiotic treatment.
2.Epstein-Barr virus infection: Highly common in adolescents, with an increased proportion of lymphocytes, characterized by fever and cervical lymphadenopathy, and is usually self-limiting.
4. Diagnosis and treatment suggestions
When elevated white blood cells are found, the following steps are recommended:
1.perfect check: C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) testing can help determine the type of infection.
2.Pathological examination: Blood culture, sputum culture, PCR testing, etc. to identify pathogens.
3.targeted treatment: Bacterial infections require antibiotics, viral infections require symptomatic treatment, and fungal infections require antifungal drugs.
5. Things to note
• Physiological leukocyte elevations (e.g., exercise, pregnancy) usually do not require intervention
• Long-term unexplained leukocytosis requires investigation of blood system diseases
• The normal value of white blood cells in children is higher than that in adults, and it needs to be judged according to age.
From the above analysis, it can be seen that elevated white blood cells are an important signal of infection, but it needs to be comprehensively judged based on specific classification and clinical manifestations. Prompt medical treatment and standardized treatment are key.
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