SEC S20W6 || White Blood Cells - Module 6

aneukpineung78 -

This is my homework post for Steemit Engagement Challenge Season 20 Week 6 assignment of Professor @dexsyluz’s class, SEC S20W6 || White Blood Cells - Module 6.
The drawing I made based on references from various sources on the internet.
Image is clickable and might show larger resolution.

Task 1 - Define White Blood Cells

In the human immune system, white blood cells or leukocytes Leukocytes (derived from Greek leucko = white and cyte = cell) are the main and most important component. White blood cells function to fight infections, foreign microorganisms and diseases. White blood cells circulate in the blood and body tissues to detect and destroy threats to the body (pathogens) such as bacteria, parasites, fungi. White blood cells can be called the main defense in protecting the body from disease and injury. White blood cells only account for 1% of the total blood count but their function and impact is huge.

Here are the main characteristics of Leukocytes (white blood cells):

Based on the presence of granule content in their cytoplasm, leukocytes are divided into two:

The number of white blood cells in the body can indicate the state of health; 1) an elevated leukocyte count (called leukocytosis) indicates a massive production of leukocytes indicating inflammation; 2) decreased leukocyte count or lower than normal (called leukopenia) can indicate an immune disorder or side effects of certain medications.

Task 2 - Make a diagram of the white series

Broadly speaking, blood is divided into 1) Plasma; and 2) Blood cells. Plasma consists of some parts such as: 1a) Water; 1b) Protein; 1c) Electrolytes; and so on. While Blood Cells are further divided into: 2a) Red Blood Cells; 2b) White Blood Cells; and 2c) Platelets. The following is a general scheme of blood content (the drawing I made based on references from various sources on the internet).
Made with Adobe Photoshop 2021 under various references from the internet.
Image is clickable and might show larger resolution.

The following drawing shows the types of white blood cells (5 most popular white series) based on the granule content inside (the drawing I made based on references from various sources on the internet).
Made with Adobe Photoshop 2021 under various references from the internet.
Image is clickable and might show larger resolution.

Task 3 - Neutrophilia vs Neutropenia

One type of white blood cell is called neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell in the blood circulation and play an important role in fighting infections, especially those caused by bacteria. Neutrophilia and Neutropenia are two conditions that relate to and explain the number of neutrophils in the blood. Here's an explanation of each:

  1. Neutrophilia
    • a. Term
      A condition in which there is an increase in the number of neutrophils in the blood. The reference value that is often used as a benchmark for the maximum number of neutrophils in the blood is 7,000 cells per microliter of blood. The reference value may vary depending on the laboratory. Broadly speaking, neutrophil counts increase when the immune system is struggling to cope with a serious infection.
    • b. Causes
      Some medical conditions that can cause neutrophilia:
      • Inflammation. Inflammation such as arthritis or autoimmune diseases can cause neutrophil production to increase.
      • Infection. Acute bacterial infections can cause an increase in neutrophil count.
      • Drug reaction. An increase in neutrophil count can also be caused by the use of drugs such as corticosteroids.
      • Stress. Not just physical stress, mental stress can also cause an increase in the number of neutrophils in circulation. This includes major surgery and trauma.
      • Cancer. Some cancers, including leukemia, can cause neutrophilia.
      • And others.
    • c. Symptoms
      Neutrophilia is usually asymptomatic, but symptoms of the underlying cause (such as infection or inflammation) may occur. So it cannot be detected easily without laboratory involvement.
  2. Neutropenia
    • a. Term
      Neutropenia is a medical condition that is the opposite of neutrophilia: neutropenia is a term to describe a condition where there is a decrease in the number of neutrophils (neutrophils are below 1,500 cells per microliter of blood). Since neutrophils function as the main defense in the immune system against infections, especially those caused by bacteria, neutropenia increases the risk of infection.
    • b. Causes
      Among the things that can cause this condition are:
      • Medical Conditions. Bone marrow disorders (where white blood cells are produced) such as aplastic anemia can be a cause, and myelodysplastic disease can also cause low neutrophil counts.
      • Viral infections. Neutrophil production can also be disrupted by infection with certain types of viruses.
      • Nutrition. Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency can affect white blood cell production.
      • Autoimmune diseases. neutrophils can be damaged and destroyed by health conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
      • Use of medications. Some chemotherapy, antibiotics, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to suppress neutrophil production.
    • c. Symptoms
      Among the symptoms of neutropenia are:
      • Increased risk of infection. This condition may present as fever, symptoms of respiratory tract infection, or skin infection.
      • Symptoms of infection that are more severe or more frequent than in people with normal neutrophil counts.
        It is understandable that neutropenia is easier to detect than neutrophilia, as neutrophil deficiency directly affects health conditions.

Task 4 - Explain a case related to the white series

Here is an example of a case of neutrophilia caused by a bacterial infection:

  1. Complaint
    A man in his early 40s complained of:
    • high fever,
    • chills,
    • pain in the lower abdomen, and
    • increased frequency of urination accompanied by pain over the past three days.
      Important notes: the man has no history of serious illness, but has recently had a mild Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
  2. Physical examination found:
    • fever with body temperature at 39°C;
    • pain in the lower abdominal area when pressed.
      At this point, the doctor suspects pyelonephritis (a kidney infection that is often a complication of a poorly treated UTI).
  3. A Complete Blood Count (CBC) requested by the doctor to check the leukocyte count brought the results:
    • The total white blood cell count is higher than the normal range of 4,000-11,000 cells/µL, at 15,000 cells/µL.
    • The neutrophil count was above the normal range of 2,500-7,000 cells/µL, at 15,000 cells/µL, indicating neutrophilia.
    • Neutrophils with increased band cells (young neutrophil cells), which is a sign of increased neutrophil production to fight infection.
  4. Diagnosis: Based on the neutrophilia (increased number of neutrophils) and symptoms of infection, the patient was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis caused by bacterial infection. Naturally, the body will produce more neutrophils to fight bacterial infections especially in acute infections such as kidney infections.
  5. Treatment. The patient was given intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat the kidney infection. In addition, the patient was asked to stay well hydrated and given fever-reducing medication to manage the accompanying symptoms.

Thanks

Thanks Professor @dexsyluz for the lesson. Inviting @anroja, @rayfa, and @bahrol.

Pictures Sources

Sources and Reading Suggestion

My Introductory Post | Artikel Perkenalan Saya.

Picture created by @aneukpineung78


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