What Causes A Low WBC Count?

Posted on Sat, 3 Jan 2015

Question: Hi, my white blood cell count is 2.6. in the month previous to this test result i had an upper and lower respiratory virus. I had a 10 day course of Amoxicillin, 7 days of prednisone, and i take 4 puffs of Flovent(corticosteroid) per day for the past 10 years. My question is could this low of a Wbc count be due to the medications and virus 3 weeks before the test? thank you

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
This is unlikely and I will like to see you control this test.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about these low WBC and all the inconveniences this has caused you. It is unlikely that these low WBC can be explained by drugs or viral infection. I would have expected a viral infection to rather cause an increase in WBC. Could you also upload the entire result sheet?

For now, I will suggest that you compare these findings to previous laboratory values and also control the blood count test in 4 weeks form today. This would tell us where you were, and where you would be. With these values, we would be better placed to understand exactly what has happened and address accordingly.

Please, this is not an emergency and you should not panic at this time. What is important is asking the right questions and getting the appropriate answers.

I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Thank you so much for using our services.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (6 minutes later)

Doesnt corticosteroids and antibiotics lower white blood cell counts

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Corticosteroids increase White blood cells. Amoxicillin has no effect!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Please, steroids increase and not reduce WBC. Amoxicillin has no effect on it. However, a one time measure of WBC would not provide so much information for us to understand more about what has happened. Comparing to previous values and controlling in future would give us a clear idea on how aggressive we should go trying to investigate into the possible significance and cause of this low WBC. If you can have access to this information, please share it with me.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)

i will try and forward the lab report. is it possible that a viral infection, cold or influenza, had a lowering effect? what else could it be?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please, send the other reports!

Detailed Answer:
Gi,

A single report that shows absolute numbers a lone with no break down into the various cells cannot resolve this worry. I will like to get the results forwarded.

We expect infections to raise WBC and not drop them. Please, do not get to worried about this at this time. Let's work on getting answers to help guide our reasoning and management.

I wish you well. Hope to hear from you.

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