
What Causes Low White Cell Count With Recurrent Bronchitis?

3 plausible causes of your symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I am Dr.Omer and I am here to help you with your query.
I am Sorry to hear about your recurrent bronchitis.
As you have said in your query that you have low white cell count with recurrent bronchitis ( green to white phlegm ).
Combining these two symptoms show us that you have immune/blood problem.
Based on the information given by you following are the plausible causes:
1. Cystic fibrosis can start in 30s , in which there is dilatation of the bronchioles of the lung which causes recurrent bronchitis with copious amount of phlegm and low white cells. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease.Investigation required is sweat test and Ct scan of lung.
2. Alpha 1 anti-trypsin is also a genetic disease presents with low white cells and recurrent bronchitis , common in smokers , test is genetic testing for alpha-1-anti-trypsin.
3. HIV infection is common in asian people , aggravated by social contact with people in Vietnam.It may present with recurrent bronchitis with low white cell count.HIV also causes pulmonary tuberculosis which in-turn causes recurrent bronchitis , fever , weight loss and lymphadenopathy.For TB CT scan lung , montoux test and ESR will show IF its there.For HIV you need to do RT-PCR to see the viral load.
Musinex is guaifenesin , maximum dose is 2.4 gram /day.If you are taking 400-600 mg , then you can repeat after 8 hrs.
With high dosage i.e beyond 2.4 gram/day can cause kidney stones , dizziness , headache with vomiting.
Vitamin C cannot cause increase in white cells until and unless we treat the underlying cause of low white cells as i have explained above.
In the end i would say that you should review your problem with an Internist as he will do the above tests to rule out these diseases discussed above.
Do not worry as all the diseases i told are completely treatable.
Feel free to ask any further queries.
Take care


I have a Cat scan of sinus scheduled soon. I took z-pack extra strength antibiotic for 3 days then doxycycline for 10 days then had blood work done. My immunoglobulins quantitative results were out of normal range: IgG 2173, when normal is 694-1618; IgA was also high at 543 when normal is 81-463; I also had high IgM 356 when normal is 48-271. I will probably get bronchitis or pnemonia in 4 or 6 more weeks since I am now off the antibiotics. I still take expectorant (Musinex brand). I do not smoke and HIV test was normal. Two questions please: 1). What do these test results mean? (if I also usually have very low white blood cell count.)
2). Also, do you have any medications for me to consider asking my doctor about my immuno problem other than expectorant (musines/guanfacin) 400mg 3 times a day).
Thank you!
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