Total Blood Leukocyte Count Chart

The total leukocyte count in normal blood ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 white cells per cubic millimeter. The term Leukocytosis signifies an abnormal increase in the number of circulating white blood cells. The term Leukopenia signifies an abnormal decrease in the number of white blood cells to fewer than 5,000 cells per cubic millimeter.

In general, a leukocytosis may be regarded as a response of the bone marrow to an increased demand of leukocytes. The degree and type of response vary (1) with the intensity of the stimulus (which depends largely on the species of the infecting organism, on its virulence and on the location & extent of the area involved) (2) on the reacting power of the individual. A mild infection may call forth for an insignificant response. If the infection is overwhelming or the reacting power of the marrow id seriously impaired, there may be no leukocytosis but even a leukopenia.

In interpreting the leukocytic response to an infection however changes in differential count and qualitative alterations in leukocytes are more significant than an increase in their total number. The following table show their rise and fall inn different diseases & infections:

Leukocytes	Normal Range	Increased In	Diminished In
Neutrophiles	40 - 75 %	All kinds of infections & inflammations specially septic conditions, very markedly in myeloid leukemia.	Kala Azar markedly and slightly in Malaria, TB, Typhoid Fever, Whooping Cough, Pernicious & Aplastic anemia.
Lymphocytes	20-45 %	Early stage of Chickenpox, measles, typhus, whooping cough, brocho-pneumonia, malaria and glandular fevers. During convalescence from any acute infection. In some cases of TB. Markedly in Kala Azar, typhoid fever, bacillary dysentery, mumps and brucella infections, secondary syphilis, hyperthyroidism, after exposure to ultra violet radiations and in lymphatic leukemia.	Absolute number after excessive radiation, during the acute stage of most infections, in conditions in which the lymphoid tissue is replaced by other tissue as in myelogenous leukemia, advanced Hodgkin's disease, extensive TB or carcinomatosis of the lymph glands and in conditions with marked increase of polymorpho- nuclear.
Monocytes	Up to 8 %	Many cases of malaria and other protozoal infections including trypano-somiasis, kala azar and ameobiasis. Less regularly and often only in slight degree in variola, typhus, spotted fever, dengue, yellow fever, measles, syphilis, bacterial endocarditis, active progressive TB, Hodgkin's disease, monocytic leukemia, banti's disease.	Acute inflammation with marked increase of polymorpho - neuclears.
Eosinophils	1 - 6 %	Intestinal parasites, skin diseases, asthma, hay fever, urticaria, gonorrhea, epidemic dropsy, dengue, Hodgkin's disease and myeloid leukemia.	Acute phase of most severe infections.
Basophiles	Up to 1 %	Chronic myeloid leukemia and alcoholic jaundice, and erythraemia.	Nil

 

Updated on: 01 Feb 2010