A high white blood cell (WBC) count can develop due to many conditions. White blood cells are an important part of the body’s immune system. These cells help fight infection, aid in healing from trauma, and assist in recovery from disease.
There are several types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and monocytes) that act in different ways and may be increased in number in different conditions.
This article will discuss symptoms of the conditions associated with a high white blood cell count, including common causes, tests, and treatments. Please see your healthcare provider for specifics regarding your condition.
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Symptoms of a High White Blood Cell Count
Symptoms of common conditions that may be associated with a high white blood cell count include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Sweats
- Chills
- Swelling of an area of infection
- Joint swelling due to infection or autoimmune disease
- Itching, with or without a rash
- Pain, tenderness, warmth, or redness at an area of infection or joint swelling
- Allergy symptoms, including runny nose, congestion, rash
- Wheezing
Causes of a High White Cell Count
Infections cause a high white blood cell count because these cells are the body’s way of eliminating infectious organisms—viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Many medical conditions are also associated with a high white blood cell count, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, cancer, and bone marrow disorders.
When white blood cells are active, they can have several effects. These include:
- Releasing enzymes that raise the temperature, which causes warmth or fever and sweats
- Causing blood vessels to widen and become leaky, which causes redness and swelling
- Accumulating in certain areas of the body, such as forming an abscess (a walled-off area of infection)
What Medications Can Cause a High White Cell Count?
Medications known to increase the WBC count include corticosteroids, lithium, colony-stimulating factors, beta-agonists, and epinephrine.
How to Treat a High White Cell Count
When a high white cell count is caused by an infection that is resolving on its own, as is the case with most viral infections, no medical intervention is needed beyond symptomatic treatment (such as getting rest or drinking warm tea to soothe a sore throat).
Your healthcare provider may suggest ways to relieve the symptoms of the underlying condition that is causing the elevated white cell count. These treatments include:
- Tylenol (acetaminophen) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs, such as Advil ibuprofen or Aleve naproxen sodium) to reduce fever, pain, or swelling
- Antihistamines to reduce allergy symptoms
- Bronchodilator medications to treat and prevent symptoms of asthma or COPD
- Dietary modifications to help alleviate the effects of gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions
These treatments may help you feel better, but they might not lower your white blood cell count.
Other treatments that may be needed to treat the underlying condition include:
- Steroids or immunosuppressants for autoimmune diseases or inflammatory disorders
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy for blood cancer
- Bone marrow transplant for some types of blood cancer
- Antibiotics or other medications to treat an infection that’s causing a high white cell count
Some conditions, such as the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lupus or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), may require ongoing therapy.
Complications and Risk Factors Associated With a High WBC Count
Blood cancers and autoimmune diseases that cause overproduction of abnormal white blood cells can cause susceptibility to infections and impaired healing from injuries or diseases.
Sometimes, a high white blood cell count is accompanied by anemia (a low red blood cell count). This happens when bone marrow disease that’s causing overproduction of white blood cells also causes underproduction of red blood cells.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of a High WBC Count?
A high white cell count is identified in a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). This test provides a report of the number of white blood cells and red blood cells, as well as the types of each white blood cell and their percentage.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the normal number of white blood cells in the blood is 4,500 to 11,000 WBCs per microliter (4.5 to 11.0 × 109/L).
What Your CBC Blood Test Results Say About Your Health
In addition to a CBC, you might also have a microscopic examination of your blood sample (peripheral blood smear), which can determine whether the size or shape of the cells is abnormal.
Some conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, can be associated with excess amounts of degenerate neutrophils, which are neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) that are dying. And some types of cancer can cause excess white blood cells that have an unusual microscopic appearance.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Call your healthcare provider if you feel sick, run-down, or have a fever for longer than a few days.
If you have already been diagnosed with a chronic disease that causes a high white cell count, you and your healthcare providers should discuss the signs that your condition is worsening and develop a plan for when you should get medical attention.
Get prompt medical attention if you develop any of the following:
- High fever above 103 degrees
- Sudden or rapidly worsening joint or skin redness, swelling, or pain
- Recurrent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Sweats or chills
- Dizziness, pale skin, rapid heart rate, or rapid breathing
Summary
White blood cells are part of the immune system that help fight infection and help you heal from disease. Your white blood cells can temporarily increase while you are recovering from an illness.
Sometimes, medical problems associated with excess normal or abnormal white blood cells can cause symptoms such as fever, swelling, or congestion. A CBC can measure your white blood cell count. Medications can treat the underlying condition that is causing the elevated white blood cell count.
A Word From Verywell
Having a high white blood cell count by itself usually is not a reason to worry. This is one of the signs that your body is fighting an infection or recovering from an illness. The chronic or serious illnesses that cause a high white cell count are often treatable with medication or other therapies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a high white blood cell count always cause symptoms?
No. It is the underlying disease or condition causing the high WBC that produces symptoms. Symptoms will vary.
Is it beneficial to raise your white blood cell count?
It depends on the underlying condition that is causing a low white blood cell count. It is not beneficial to raise your white blood cell count above normal levels, but if your white blood cell count is low, then you will need treatment to help raise it to normal levels.
What does it mean when your red blood cell count is high?
It may also signify internal bleeding, kidney disease or malnutrition (where a person's diet does not contain enough nutrients to meet their body's needs). A high RBC count could be caused by a number of health conditions or health-related factors, including: smoking. congenital heart disease.Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high?
Should I worry if my red blood cell count is high? Not necessarily. While a high red blood cell count can indicate a disease or disorder, it doesn't always mean you have a health condition. Other factors — like living at a high altitude — can also have an impact on your red blood cell count.What happens if you have more red blood cells than white?
Too many red blood cells can lead to a number of other complications, including open sores on the inside lining of your stomach, upper small intestine or esophagus (peptic ulcers) and inflammation in your joints (gout).Is low white blood count serious?
A low white blood cell count is a consequence of serious diseases, and it can lead to harmful health problems—including infections, slow healing, and cancer. A low white blood cell count doesn't cause symptoms, but the complications of a low white blood cell count can cause many different symptoms.