Your child has had an acute respiratory disease, and already at discharge the doctor decided to do a blood test. When suddenly it was found out: lymphocytes are increased. What happens in the body in a child when he has enlarged lymphocytes?
What are lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes are blood cells, more precisely, cells of the immune system, a kind of leukocytes. First of all, lymphocytes are responsible for the acquired immunity.
The main task of lymphocytes is to recognize the foreign bodies of bacteria and viruses and help to eliminate them. They provide both humoral and cellular immunity. Only 2% of the lymphocytes circulate in the blood, the rest are located in the tissues.
The level of lymphocytes in children
As always, the blood test form itself informs us that there is a certain norm of the number of lymphocytes in the blood of children. This norm differs from the norm of adults. Moreover, in an infant it is many times greater than that of a five-year-old child. Therefore, looking at the analysis of the blood of your baby, do not forget to pay attention to what form it is written on and what norms are listed there. You can make the wrong conclusion that your baby has lymphocytes increased, comparing them with the norm of an adult.
In the table below, the norms for children are listed:
| Age | Vibration limit | Lymphocytes (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | 4.0-10.5 | 61 |
| 4 years | 2.0-8.0 | 50 |
| 6 years | 1.5-7.0 | 42 |
| 10 years | 1.5-6.5 | 38 |
What is the increase in lymphocytes in children?
In the blood of a child, lymphocytes can be increased as a result of the fight against a viral infection. This is the most common variant (in addition, it should be borne in mind that the increased level of lymphocytes is preserved after the child's recovery). But this symptom also accompanies many other infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, lymphosarcoma, measles, viral hepatitis, acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and others. The increase of lymphocytes is also observed in bronchial asthma, endocrine diseases, hypersensitivity caused by taking medications.
What is the decrease in lymphocytes in children?
When the lymphocytes in a child are lowered, it indicates the malfunction of the immune system. These can be consequences and hereditary immunodeficiency diseases, and acquired infectious diseases.
How long can lymphocytes be elevated?
If the increase in lymphocytes in the blood according to the analysis is your only complaint, there is no reason to worry. If the child has had an acute respiratory disease, a high level of lymphocytes may persist for 2-3 weeks, and sometimes 1-2 months.
Should the level of lymphocytes be reduced in the blood?>
Whether the given parameter of a blood of the child should be regulated, defines or determines the attending physician. Perhaps raising the level only indicates that the body's immune system is normal and the virus that overcomes the child is receiving proper resistance. Do not forget, however, about the support of the body during illness. On the mode of sleep and rest, walks, about foods rich in proteins (meat, fish, eggs, milk) and vegetable fats. The correct regime of the day and the menu of the child is the key to improving both the parameters of his blood and overall well-being.