Question
A child has undergone a routine blood test and the result shows that the white blood cell (WBC) count is approximately 16,000. The child is currently showing no symptoms. Is this count considered normal?
Answer
The normal range for white blood cell counts varies by age. For newborns, a count of 16,000 is considered normal. However, for adults, the normal range for peripheral blood white blood cell counts is 4～10×10^9/L. A count below 4×10^9/L is considered leukopenia, while a count above 10×10^9/L is considered leukocytosis, which may be associated with infection. It is recommended to visit a regular medical institution for further examination and treatment. What is the age of the child?