Title: A High Number of Leukocytes | Healthfully
Headings: A High Number of Leukocytes
A High Number of Leukocytes
Is This an Emergency?
Causes of Leukocytosis
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Monocytes and Basophils
Emergencies
Reviewed by: Tom Iarocci, M.D.

Content: Additionally, WBC counts may be high for any number of reasons. Leukocytosis is a fairly common laboratory finding 1. Is This an Emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. Causes of Leukocytosis
Elevated WBC counts may accompany different clinical scenarios that range from infection, inflammation, allergic reaction, malignancy, hereditary disorders, drugs, and other miscellaneous causes -- in addition to several normal bodily responses such as: stress
exercise
Unless the cause
is immediately obvious
your doctor will need more information to make sense of the finding
including potentially which WBC types are over-represented
as well as your entire history
including any presenting symptoms
physical findings
Neutrophils
What a White Blood Count of 12000 Means
Learn More
Infection is the most common cause of elevated neutrophil counts. Most bacterial infections cause what is known as “neutrophilia with bandemia,” where neutrophilia reflects the high count and bandemia refers to an excess of band cells, or immature white blood cells. However, inflammation without an infection – for instance, in rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease – can also produce neutrophilia, as can certain medications such as: heparin
some seizure medications
steroids
others
Certain malignancies such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma may produce neutrophilia as well. Eosinophils
Leukocytosis may also be due to high numbers of white blood cells known as eosinophils, or eosinophilia.