Question
A few days ago, the child had a cold and fever, but now they are better. However, the recent physical examination showed a low white blood cell count. What could be the cause?
Answer
This situation requires active antibiotic treatment, and you should first go to the hospital for a detailed drug sensitivity test. A low white blood cell count is commonly caused by three reasons: ① impairment of white blood cell production, ② excessive destruction of white blood cells (due to infection), and ③ abnormal distribution of granulocytes (due to various reasons causing an increase in leukocytes in the marginal pool). If the white blood cell count is very low, a bone marrow examination is necessary to check for any issues caused by blood diseases.