Question

A 4-year-old child had a cold a few days ago and was given Azithromycin. The white blood cell count is now 3.1, which is lower than normal. The child loves to sweat and feels weak. What could be the cause? How should it be treated?

Answer

Hello, common causes of a low white blood cell count include:

  1. Cold or other potential viral infections, which usually result in the white blood cell count returning to normal after the cold or viral infection resolves.
  2. For some individuals, a slightly lower white blood cell count may be normal, as the normal range for blood tests is set based on the normal values of the majority of people, such as the normal values for over 95% of individuals.
  3. Blood system diseases or other conditions affecting the blood system, such as leukemia, severe infections, liver cirrhosis with hyperplastic spleen function, etc.
  4. Female patients should be aware if connective tissue diseases affect the blood system. For treatment, it is necessary to determine the cause of the low white blood cell count first. If it is due to a temporary viral infection, there is usually no need for special treatment; it can recover naturally. If it is caused by other diseases, treatment should be targeted at the underlying cause. If necessary, consult with a pediatrician or hematologist specialist.