Low White Blood Cell Count Symptom?

[mrs turbo]

We are still going through the long drawn out process of testing my son for celiac. Some new blood work came back and now my son has a low white blood cell count. It is not extremely low (4.5), but is lower than average (6.0- 17.0). Is this another symptom of celiac or is this caused by something totally different. We do have a praise report though. Through lots of prayer and going glutten free before the diagnosis, my sons liver enzymes are back in the normal range!

[loraleena]

My testing range said that anything below 4.0 is low. I have always been around 3.7-4. Even after going gluten free it was still like that. Last check though I was at 6! Best ever. I heard optimal is 7. Keep in mind that any viral illness or one recently passed will cause low white count and a bacterial infection will cause high. Last year when sick with the flu I had to be hopitalized for dehydration and my white count was 2.5!!! A few months later was when it went to 6.

[Guest Angi]

Hi, We are also going throught this. My son is 2.3 years and having a biospsy next Friday. His bloods say he does not have coeliacs but he has all the signs. I was so worried because his white cell count is 4.7. His kidneys are also working pretty hard and he has low iron and protien. I don't have any advice exept I am sure this will work out for both of us.

Angi

[moldlady]

It is very difficult to know just exactly what has caused a low white count. There are several different kinds of white blood cells of varying proportions. A low white count usually means an assult upon the immune system. This can be caused by infection (virus, bacteria, fungus). Usually it takes time to suppress the immune system to a point where the condition is chronic. This would be chronic viral, low grade bacterial, or systemic fungal infection. The immune system could also be suppressed by chemo. used for cancer, heavy metals, celiac and drugs.

There are cases of cold virus actually causing the lymphocytes to rise to abnormal levels to fight the infection.. This condition is different as it is acute and the body will respond with high levels of WBC.