Leukocytosis is a condition that affects all types of white blood cells.

Other illnesses, such as neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, and granulocytosis, target specific types of white blood cells. Normal white blood cell counts are 4,300-10,800 white blood cells per microliter. Leukocyte or white blood cell levels are considered elevated when they are between 15,000-20,000 per microliter. The increased number of leukocytes can occur abnormally as a result of an infection, cancer, or drug intake; however, leukocytosis can occur normally after eating a large meal or experiencing stress.

There are five principal types of leukocytosis : 1. 2. 3. 4. Neutrophilia (the most common form) Monocytosis Eosinophilia Basophilia

Leukocytosis

Leukocytosis is a condition that occurs when the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells. Leukocytosis can occur as a result of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection, or as a result of the inflammation that often occurs with disorders such as osteoarthritis. Physical or emotional stress, medication side effects, strong immune reactions, or disorders of the bone marrow can also cause this disorder. Symptoms can vary, depending on the cause of the disorder, but often include fever, fatigue, and weakness. Treatment can also vary, depending on the cause of the disorder. A number of health factors can contribute to elevated white blood cell counts. Often, abnormally high white blood cell counts occur due to infection, since white blood cells are the immune cells responsible for fighting bacteria, viruses and other pathogens inside the body. Inflammation, such as that caused by osteoarthritis, can also lead to increased white blood cell production. Damage to bodily tissues often results in a similar immune reaction, as can allergies or asthma. Extreme emotional and physical stress can also lead to a raised white blood cell count. Certain prescription medications can cause leukocytosis as a side effect. Disorders of the bone marrow, including leukemia, thrombocytopenia and myelofibrosis can lead to elevated white blood cell counts. Symptoms of leukocytosis can vary widely, depending upon the underlying cause of the disease. Certain symptoms, however, can occur no matter what the cause of leukocytosis. These symptoms include excessive bleeding or bruising, fever, lethargy and weakness, dizziness, sweating, and fainting. Tingling pain might occur in the legs, arms, or abdomen. Vision problems, confusion and difficulty breathing can occur, along with weight loss and lowered appetite.

Eosinophilia

Eosinophils are white blood cells that participate in immunologic and allergic events. Common causes of eosinophilia are listed in Table . The relative frequency of each cause usually relates to the clinical setting. For example, parasitic infections are often responsible for eosinophilia in pediatric patients, and drug reactions commonly cause an increased eosinophil count in hospitalized patients. Dermatologists frequently find eosinophilia in patients with skin rashes, and pulmonologists often see elevated numbers of eosinophils in conjunction with pulmonary infiltrates and bronchoallergic reactions. A complete blood count (CBC) can often be used to definitively diagnose leukocytosis by pinpointing a patient's white blood cell count. A peripheral blood smear (PBS) might be necessary if bone marrow disorders are suspected. These tests can help doctors look for abnormalities in the white blood cells. Treatment usually seeks to resolve the underlying cause of leukocytosis. In some cases, such as in the case of infection, no treatment is necessary, as leukocytosis will generally resolve itself when the infection is treated or runs its course. Steroids, antibiotics, and drugs to reduce blood levels of uric acid can help treat leukocytosis. Where bone marrow disorders are the cause of leukocytosis, bone marrow transplants, blood transfusions, and chemotherapy can be used to help treat leukocytosis. Other causes of eosinophilia include malignancies, especially those affecting the immune system (Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma),and immunologic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and periarteritis. Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, a recently described disorder associated with dietary supplements of tryptophan, resembles a connective tissue disease with fibrosis of muscle fascial tissue and peripheral eosinophilia

Bashopilia
Basophilia is an uncommon cause of leukocytosis. Basophils are inflammatory mediators of substances such as histamine. These cells, along with similar tissue-based cells (mast cells), have receptors for IgE and participate in the degranulation of white blood cells that occurs during allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.

Monocytosis Monocytosis is an increase in the number of monocytes circulating in the blood.[1] Monocytes are white blood cells that give rise to macrophages and dendritic cells in the immune system. In humans, 950/L is regarded as at the upper limit of normal; monocyte counts above this level are regarded as monocytosis Monocytosis often occurs during chronic inflammation. Diseases that produce this state:

Infections: tuberculosis, brucellosis, listeriosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, syphilis, and other viral infections and many protozoal and rickettsial infections (e.g. kala azar, malaria, Rocky Mountain spotted fever). Blood and immune causes: chronic neutropenia and myeloproliferative disorders. Autoimmune diseases and vasculitis: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Malignancies: Hodgkin's disease and certain leukaemias, such as chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) and monocytic leukemia. Recovery phase of neutropenia or an acute infection. Miscellaneous causes: sarcoidosis and lipid storage disease.

Hodgkin lymphoma, also known as Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes. It was named after Thomas Hodgkin, who first described abnormalities in the lymph system in 1832.[2][3] Hodgkin's lymphoma is characterized by the orderly spread of disease from one lymph node group to another and by the development of systemic symptoms with advanced disease. When Hodgkins cells are examined microscopically, multinucleated ReedSternberg cells (RS cells) are the characteristic histopathologic finding. Hodgkin's lymphoma may be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with the choice of treatment depending on the age and sex of the patient and the stage, bulk, and histological subtype of the disease. The disease occurrence shows two peaks: the first in young adulthood (age 1535) and the second in those over 55 years old. The overall 5-year relative survival for 20012007 from 17 SEER geographic areas was 83.9%. Since many patients are young, they often live 40 years or more after treatment. However, few studies follow patients as long as 25 years, and those studies are of older treatments with more life-threatening adverse effects. There is insufficient data available about the long-term outcomes of newer, less-toxic regimens and ones which limit radiation exposure. Radiation treatments, and some chemotherapy drugs, pose a risk of causing potentially fatal secondary cancers, heart disease, and lung disease 40 or more years later. Modern treatments greatly minimize the chances of these late effects. Patients with a history of infectious mononucleosis because of EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) may have an increased risk of HL, but the precise contribution of EpsteinBarr virus remains largely unknown.