What does it feel like to have high white blood cells? Understanding Leukocytosis

According to MedlinePlus, a high white blood cell count, also known as leukocytosis, is most often a sign that your body is fighting an infection. So, what does it feel like to have high white blood cells when the count itself isn't the direct cause of symptoms? The feeling of illness comes from the root cause, not the count itself.

Quick Summary

Many symptoms linked to high white blood cells, such as fever, fatigue, and pain, are caused by the underlying illness, not the elevated count itself. In rare, severe cases, complications can directly cause symptoms like vision problems or breathing difficulty.

Key Points

• Cause, Not Count: Your symptoms come from the underlying infection, inflammation, or other condition causing the high white blood cell count, not the count itself.

• Common Symptoms: Expect to feel general illness symptoms like fever, fatigue, body aches, and potential pain or swelling in specific areas.

• Underlying Conditions: The most common cause is infection, but leukocytosis can also be caused by inflammation, allergies, stress, medications, or blood disorders like leukemia.

• Key Warning Signs: Unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats, or easy bruising could indicate a more serious issue requiring prompt medical attention.

• Diagnosis is Key: A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is the standard test to detect high white blood cells and is crucial for guiding further diagnostic steps.

The Symptoms You Actually Feel

For most people, a high white blood cell (WBC) count is a silent condition, detected only through a routine blood test. The symptoms you experience are not from the white blood cells themselves, but rather from the illness or condition that is triggering your immune system into overdrive. For example, if you have pneumonia, your symptoms like fever and trouble breathing are caused by the pneumonia, not the high WBC count it induces.

Common symptoms often associated with conditions causing a high WBC count include:

• Fever and Chills: A raised body temperature and chills are classic signs of an active infection or inflammatory response.
• Fatigue and Weakness: Your body expends significant energy fighting off an illness, which can leave you feeling drained and weak.
• Pain and Swelling: Localized pain, swelling, and redness may occur at the site of an infection, such as an abscess or swollen lymph nodes.
• Flu-like Symptoms: These can include body aches, loss of appetite, and a general feeling of being unwell.
• Headache or Dizziness: Dizziness or vision problems can sometimes occur, particularly in severe cases.
• Breathing Difficulties: Wheezing or trouble breathing can indicate respiratory infections or severe allergic reactions.
• Skin Rashes: Hives or a skin rash may be present, especially in allergic responses.
• Night Sweats: Soaking night sweats are a potential symptom, especially with more serious underlying conditions.
• Unexplained Weight Loss: Losing weight without trying can be a red flag for chronic inflammatory conditions or certain blood cancers.
• Easy Bleeding or Bruising: This can occur if the underlying condition also affects other blood components, such as platelets.

What Are the Potential Causes of Leukocytosis?

An elevated WBC count, medically known as leukocytosis, can result from a wide range of factors. Identifying the cause is the critical step toward effective treatment. The causes can be broadly categorized as follows:

1. Infections: This is the most common cause. Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections all trigger the immune system to produce more white blood cells.
2. Inflammatory Diseases: Chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and vasculitis can cause long-term inflammation, leading to a persistently high WBC count.
3. Allergies and Asthma: A severe allergic reaction or asthma exacerbation can cause a temporary spike in white blood cells.
4. Stress: Physical and emotional stress, such as from intense exercise, surgery, injury, or anxiety, can cause a temporary increase.
5. Medications: Certain drugs, most notably corticosteroids, can lead to leukocytosis as a side effect.
6. Bone Marrow Disorders: Serious conditions like leukemia and other myeloproliferative disorders cause the bone marrow to produce an overabundance of white blood cells.
7. Other Factors: Other less common causes include tissue damage from burns, smoking, pregnancy, obesity, and certain autoimmune disorders like lupus.

The Diagnostic Process

If your doctor suspects an abnormal WBC count, they will order diagnostic tests to determine the cause. The primary tool is a Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential, a routine blood test that measures the number of each type of white blood cell in your blood. Based on the results, further investigation may be needed.

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Measures the total number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
• Blood Differential: Provides a more detailed breakdown of the proportion of each of the five types of white blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils), which can help narrow down the potential cause.
• Physical Exam and Medical History: Your doctor will assess your symptoms and medical history, including any medications you take and recent illnesses.
• Bone Marrow Biopsy: In cases where blood tests suggest a serious bone marrow disorder like leukemia, a biopsy may be necessary to examine the bone marrow tissue.

Comparison of Common Causes

Cause	Typical White Blood Cell Type Elevated	Common Associated Symptoms
Bacterial Infection	Neutrophils	Fever, localized pain and swelling, pus formation
Viral Infection	Lymphocytes	Fever, fatigue, aches, sore throat, cough
Allergies	Eosinophils (and sometimes basophils)	Rashes, hives, wheezing, congestion, itching
Rheumatoid Arthritis	Neutrophils	Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, fatigue
Leukemia	Lymphocytes or other cell types	Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, easy bruising, recurrent infections
Stress/Corticosteroids	Neutrophils	Often no specific symptoms; may be incidental finding

Treatment Approaches

Treatment for leukocytosis is entirely dependent on addressing the underlying condition. It is not about simply lowering the white blood cell count, but rather curing the root cause that made it high in the first place.

• For Infections: Bacterial infections will be treated with antibiotics, while viral infections are often managed with rest and symptomatic care.
• For Inflammation and Autoimmune Disorders: Anti-inflammatory medications, steroids, or other immunosuppressants may be used to control the immune response.
• For Allergies: Antihistamines or other allergy-specific treatments can reduce the allergic reaction.
• For Cancer: Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or stem cell transplantation, especially for conditions like leukemia.
• For Medication-Induced Cases: Your doctor may adjust or change the medication causing the issue.
• For Severe Cases: In rare instances of extremely high WBC counts (hyperviscosity syndrome), a procedure called leukapheresis may be performed to rapidly reduce the number of white blood cells.

Conclusion

Feeling unwell when you have a high white blood cell count is not a direct result of the elevated count itself but rather a symptom of the underlying condition your body is fighting. The feelings of fatigue, fever, and pain are your body's way of signaling that it is actively responding to an infection, inflammation, or other health issue. While a temporary increase is often a sign of a routine illness, persistent or very high counts warrant medical investigation to rule out more serious concerns. Consulting a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis through tests like a CBC is essential for understanding your symptoms and receiving the right treatment. For more information on blood disorders and their diagnosis, visit Cleveland Clinic's health library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a high white blood cell count make you feel sick?

Yes, but indirectly. The symptoms you feel, like fever and fatigue, are typically caused by the underlying condition, such as an infection, that led to the elevated count, not the high count itself.

What is the most common reason for high white blood cells?

The most common reason is an active infection, where your immune system produces more white blood cells to fight off bacteria or viruses.

What other conditions cause leukocytosis?

Besides infections, other causes include chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, severe allergic reactions, high stress, and certain medications like corticosteroids.

Do all types of leukocytosis feel the same?

No, the specific symptoms can vary depending on which type of white blood cell is elevated and the root cause. For example, eosinophilia may involve allergies, while lymphocytosis could be viral.

How is a high white blood cell count diagnosed?

It is diagnosed with a standard blood test called a Complete Blood Count (CBC), which measures the total number of white blood cells. A blood differential further breaks down the count by cell type.

When should I be concerned about high white blood cells?

While often temporary, you should see a doctor if you have unexplained fever, persistent fatigue, unusual bruising, or other serious symptoms, as it could indicate a more serious condition like a bone marrow disorder.

Can lifestyle factors affect my white blood cell count?

Yes, lifestyle factors such as smoking, high stress levels, and obesity can all contribute to an elevated white blood cell count, either temporarily or chronically.