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Child Having ESR Rate Of 48 And High White Blood Cell Count. What Is The Problem?
Question: My son has an ESR rate of 48 and he's age 2. He also had a high white blood cell count. Does this just mean hes fighting an infection or should I go get a second opinion?
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in Cardiology. I read your question with diligence.
Undoubtedly, ESR is elevated ( normally one should see it with laboratory reference value) but 48 is high. Since ESR is a nonspecific marker of inflammation and is affected by other factors, the results must be used along with the doctor's other clinical findings, the patient's health history, and results from other appropriate laboratory tests. If the ESR and clinical findings match, the doctor may be able to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis. A single elevated ESR, without any symptoms of a specific disease, will usually not give the physician enough information to make a medical decision. Furthermore, a normal result does not rule out inflammation or disease.
Moderately elevated ESR occurs with inflammation, but also with anemia or infection. Your child has high fever and elevated white blood count. So, I would agree with you that the elevated ESR can not be dismissed there is some underlying pathology which has produced fever but no other tell tale symptoms. You have mentioned mouth pain perhaps that can be the starting point to have re look by another doctor.Good Luck.
With best wishes.
Dr Anil Grover,
Medical Specialist & Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in Cardiology. I read your question with diligence.
Undoubtedly, ESR is elevated ( normally one should see it with laboratory reference value) but 48 is high. Since ESR is a nonspecific marker of inflammation and is affected by other factors, the results must be used along with the doctor's other clinical findings, the patient's health history, and results from other appropriate laboratory tests. If the ESR and clinical findings match, the doctor may be able to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis. A single elevated ESR, without any symptoms of a specific disease, will usually not give the physician enough information to make a medical decision. Furthermore, a normal result does not rule out inflammation or disease.
Moderately elevated ESR occurs with inflammation, but also with anemia or infection. Your child has high fever and elevated white blood count. So, I would agree with you that the elevated ESR can not be dismissed there is some underlying pathology which has produced fever but no other tell tale symptoms. You have mentioned mouth pain perhaps that can be the starting point to have re look by another doctor.Good Luck.
With best wishes.
Dr Anil Grover,
Medical Specialist & Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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