Leukocytosis is a condition where a person’s white blood cells count is higher than normal. White blood cells are a part of our immune system that fights and protects our body from diseases and infections. White blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, a spongy soft tissue inside the bones, where some are released into your body and the rest are kept inside the marrow.

The cause of this condition is usually due to underlying sickness that causes the white blood cell count to increase. Generally, when a person’s white blood cell count is higher that it should be, it means that the body is being attacked by some disease or infection and the immune system is doing its job. Bacteria, fungi, a parasite, or a virus may cause this attack or it can also be caused by chicken pox or pneumonia. Physical and emotional stress can also cause leukocytosis while some medication causes it as its side effects.

Disorders of the bone marrow, including leukemia, thrombocytopenia and myelofibrosis can lead to higher white blood cell count thus resulting to leukocytosis.

Symptoms of leukocytosis vary depending on the cause but the common symptoms are fever, fatigue, weakness, bleeding or bruising, dizziness, having tingling sensation or pain in legs, abdomen or arms, difficulty breathing, having trouble thinking or seeing, loss of appetite and losing weight even if you don’t intend to. Leukocytosis can affect any age, gender, or sex.

Usually, treatment for leukocytosis is unnecessary but it still depends on the disease or sickness that causes it. Most physicians will ask for the patient’s medical history and will treat the underlying disease or sickness. Sometimes, the patients are asked to undergo bone marrow tests to better determine the cause. In some severe cases, bone marrow transplant and blood transfusion are performed.