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Low White Blood Cell Count Symptom?


mrs turbo

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mrs turbo Newbie

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!


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loraleena Contributor

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 Rookie

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.

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      Thanks for the reply. 
    • Scott Adams
      What you’re describing is actually very common, and unfortunately the timing of the biopsy likely explains the confusion. Yes, it is absolutely possible for the small intestine to heal enough in three months on a strict gluten-free diet to produce a normal or near-normal biopsy, especially when damage was mild to begin with. In contrast, celiac antibodies can stay elevated for many months or even years after gluten removal, so persistently high antibody levels alongside the celiac genes and clear nutrient deficiencies strongly point to celiac disease, even if you don’t feel symptoms. Many people with celiac are asymptomatic but still develop iron and vitamin deficiencies and silent intestinal damage. The lack of immediate symptoms makes it harder emotionally, but it doesn’t mean gluten isn’t harming you. Most specialists would consider this a case of celiac disease with a false-negative biopsy due to early healing rather than “something else,” and staying consistently gluten-free is what protects you long-term—even when your body doesn’t protest right away.
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