Question
Is it concerning if a child’s white blood cell count is high? My child has recently shown this condition, and I’m not sure if I need to give him medication. Please give me some advice from a doctor.
Answer
After excluding factors such as the child’s intense crying and morning/evening differences, conduct a white blood cell test and further analyze the cause. Parents should not be overly concerned. In most cases, an elevated white blood cell count may be due to acute bacterial infection, severe tissue damage, massive bleeding, poisoning, or leukemia. Intense crying in children can also lead to a rise in white blood cell count, with afternoon levels sometimes even doubling those of the morning. For children under 3 years old, an elevated white blood cell count is a normal phenomenon. However, for children aged 12 and under, a white blood cell count within a certain range is also considered normal.