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What Do Atypical Lymphocytes Indicate?
Question: I"m an anxious basket case and need some reassurance. I've always been anxious, but even more so since my husband died 3 years ago. Please help me with this concern. I'm a healthy 68 year old female. Since my husband died my white blood count has been weird. My neutrophils have been consistently low at around 43. And my monocytes have been consistently high at around 12. Everything else has been completely normal. The doctors have never been concerned, but I am. What would cause this, and should I be as worried as I am? Three different doctors have seen these results and have never mentioned them. I see them in the lab reports that come to me. And now recently I've had a viral infection. About 12 days ago I came down with a sore throat and fever that lasted about 9 days. The doctor did a CBC during that time and my abnormal results are as follows. I'm giving you just the abnormal numbers. The others are normal. WBC: 2.89, PLATELETS: 124 ATYPICAL LYMPHS: 16 NEUTROPHILS: 43 MONOCYTES: 12. I saw 2 different doctors regarding this report. They both said it was indicative of a viral infection and would straighten out as I got better. They didn't feel that any retesting needed to be done. I'm freaked out about the atypical lymph count. I read on the Internet that it can mean cancer. My virus seems to be gone. I'm still tired and weak but I suppose that can linger awhile. Please help me interpret these numbers. Also can neutrophils and monocytes be consistently abnormal just due to stress? I have a lot of that. But right now I'm really worried about the atypical lymphs, although my doctors aren't. Please help me sort this out so I can relax. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Blood culture
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Atypical lymphocytes are large lymphocytes that contain a greater amount of cytoplasm and can vary in size and shape. Often a characteristic bluish tinge of cytoplasm is seen where the cell abuts with surrounding RBCs
Low neutrophils, high monocytes and increased numbers of atypical lymphocytes are found in bacterial infection such as ß-Streptococcus and viral infection such as cytomegalovirus and epstein barr virus .
I would advise you to do a blood culture test and if any growth is found then treatment with sensitive antibiotics will bring back the blood count to within normal range in 3 weeks of time.
You are not suffering from cancer and you should not worry.
Regards
DR DE
Blood culture
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Atypical lymphocytes are large lymphocytes that contain a greater amount of cytoplasm and can vary in size and shape. Often a characteristic bluish tinge of cytoplasm is seen where the cell abuts with surrounding RBCs
Low neutrophils, high monocytes and increased numbers of atypical lymphocytes are found in bacterial infection such as ß-Streptococcus and viral infection such as cytomegalovirus and epstein barr virus .
I would advise you to do a blood culture test and if any growth is found then treatment with sensitive antibiotics will bring back the blood count to within normal range in 3 weeks of time.
You are not suffering from cancer and you should not worry.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for your reply. I had a test done for strep and it was negative. I've had mono in the past. Can it reactivate again? I understood you can get it only once. My doctor isn't doing any further testing at this time. What is a blood culture test and what does it involve? I don't have cancer, but I'm worried that this high atypical count could be cancer. Is that possible? Can these numbers be just a result of a viral infection such as a bad cold or the flu? Could that make them this far off?
Brief Answer:
laboratory test to check for bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since you are negative for streptococcal infection and you already had infectious mononucleosis in the past you should not worry.
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood sample. Most cultures check for bacteria.
A blood sample is needed.
The site where blood will be drawn is first cleaned with an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine. This reduces the chance of an organism from the skin getting into (contaminating) the blood sample and causing a false positive result .
The sample is sent to a laboratory. There, it is placed in a special dish which is called culture. It is then watched to see if bacteria or other disease causing organisms grow. A gram stain may also be done. A gram stain is a method of identifying microorganisms (bacteria) using a special series of stains (colors).
A bacterial blood infection sometimes comes and goes, so a series of three blood cultures may be done to.
Cancer causes higher atypical lymphocyte count and you are not suffering from cancer and you should not worry.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
DR DE
laboratory test to check for bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since you are negative for streptococcal infection and you already had infectious mononucleosis in the past you should not worry.
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood sample. Most cultures check for bacteria.
A blood sample is needed.
The site where blood will be drawn is first cleaned with an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine. This reduces the chance of an organism from the skin getting into (contaminating) the blood sample and causing a false positive result .
The sample is sent to a laboratory. There, it is placed in a special dish which is called culture. It is then watched to see if bacteria or other disease causing organisms grow. A gram stain may also be done. A gram stain is a method of identifying microorganisms (bacteria) using a special series of stains (colors).
A bacterial blood infection sometimes comes and goes, so a series of three blood cultures may be done to.
Cancer causes higher atypical lymphocyte count and you are not suffering from cancer and you should not worry.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
My only question is could these blood counts be due to a bad cold or the flu?
Brief Answer:
cold or the flu can cause such abnormal counts
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Influenza A and B viruses causing cold and flu infection causes such abnormal blood counts and there is nothing to worry.
Regards
DR DE
cold or the flu can cause such abnormal counts
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Influenza A and B viruses causing cold and flu infection causes such abnormal blood counts and there is nothing to worry.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
So because I'm otherwise healthy, and I just had a viral infection, could this very well be from the viral infection? I had a fever, sore throat, and mild cold symptoms for about 9 days. Also, there is a lot of viral illnesses going around here right now. Lots of people are sick. Is it possible for these results to go back to normal on their own? And one last question----- could the consistent low neutrophil count and the high monocyte count be a normal thing for some people? I've had this now for the past 3 years with no other symptoms or no other abnormal labs. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
blood counts will come back to normal within 3 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Your counts are abnormal as you just had a viral infection.
The blood counts will come back to normal within 3 weeks of time on their own.
Low neutrophil and high monocyte count is a normal thing for some people and since you are having no other symptoms you should not be concered.
Regards
DR DE
blood counts will come back to normal within 3 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Your counts are abnormal as you just had a viral infection.
The blood counts will come back to normal within 3 weeks of time on their own.
Low neutrophil and high monocyte count is a normal thing for some people and since you are having no other symptoms you should not be concered.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I appreciate your patience with me and your answers to my questions. With all of this said, do you still think I need a blood culture done? I really have no other symptoms and have never had any. I'm assuming the low platelet count count be due to the viral infection too? Again, thank you. And this will be my last question. You are more than kind and patient!
Please address the question about if you still think I need a blood culture since now you think it's from the viral infection that I had. And do you think I need to have a follow up CBC? My doctor didn't think it was necessary. What do you think? Thank you. I guess I would have never known I had these abnormal values if I hadn't gone to the doctor because I had such a sore throat.
Please address the question about if you still think I need a blood culture since now you think it's from the viral infection that I had. And do you think I need to have a follow up CBC? My doctor didn't think it was necessary. What do you think? Thank you. I guess I would have never known I had these abnormal values if I hadn't gone to the doctor because I had such a sore throat.
Brief Answer:
Complete blood count after 1 month
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since you are having no symptoms I think blood culture test is not needed at this moment.
I would advise you to do a complete blood count test after 1 month.
Your blood counts will come back to normal and you do not need to worry.
Regards
Dr de
Complete blood count after 1 month
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since you are having no symptoms I think blood culture test is not needed at this moment.
I would advise you to do a complete blood count test after 1 month.
Your blood counts will come back to normal and you do not need to worry.
Regards
Dr de
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Thank you so much. I have a doctor appointment in 6 weeks. Do you think it would be OK to wait that long to have the complete blood count done? This will be my last question. Thank you for your help and your patience with me.
Brief Answer:
Blood test after 3 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I would recommend you to do a blood test after 3 weeks of time.
Regards
Dr de
Blood test after 3 weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I would recommend you to do a blood test after 3 weeks of time.
Regards
Dr de
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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