Can you have bacterial infection with normal WBC?
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Can you have bacterial infection with normal WBC?
Many febrile patients have markedly elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and normal white blood cell (WBC) counts. Most of these patients have bacterial infection and no previous underlying disease of impaired WBC functioning.
Is your WBC supposed to be higher than your RBC?
White blood cells protect the body against infection. If an infection develops, white blood cells attack and destroy the bacteria, virus, or other organism causing it. White blood cells are bigger than red blood cells but fewer in number.
Does normal WBC mean no infection?
Despite multiple studies showing that a normal white blood cell (WBC) count does not exclude serious disease, physicians in all specialties continue to behave as if it did.
Can you have a normal white blood cell count and still have an infection?
When you get sick, your white blood cell count is higher than normal. This is because your body is releasing more of these cells to fight the infection. But if you have certain illnesses like HIV or cancer, your white blood cell count can drop to very low levels.
What is the normal range for WBC and RBC?
How to find normal values
| Test | Result | Reference range# |
|---|---|---|
| WBC (white blood cells) | 6.2 x 1000/mm3 | 5–10 |
| RBC (red blood cells) | 4.4 x 1,000,000/mm3 | 4.2–6.1 |
| Hgb (hemoglobin) | 9 g/dL (L) | 12–18 |
| Hct (hematocrit) | 28\% (L) | 37–52 |
What cancers cause low WBC?
Low white blood cell count causes Certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, and treatments such as chemotherapy can damage the bone marrow’s ability to create white blood cells. Chemicals such as benzene and certain pesticides can also damage the bone marrow.
Can you have an infection with normal WBC and no fever?
Of 289 patients with bacteremia, 52\% had normal WBC count and 17\% had neither WBC elevation nor fever. Despite multiple studies showing that a normal white blood cell (WBC) count does not exclude serious disease, physicians in all specialties continue to behave as if it did.