Can viral infections cause a low WBC count?

Question

Hello doctor,

My nine-year-old son has a low white blood cell (WBC) count. He has been experiencing recurring, unexplained fevers, so our family doctor conducted two blood tests, one of which was a repeat test. His absolute WBC count is 0.6, while his total WBC count is 3.4. In the previous test, his WBC count was 2.4, with an absolute count of 0.8.

What could be causing this? Should I be concerned about leukemia? It runs in our family. Additionally, his ALT level is elevated at 43, while the normal range is 0 to 29.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Since leukemia runs in your family, we need to be cautious. However, in most cases of leukemia, the total WBC (white blood cell) count is typically high rather than low. At this stage, we will not jump to conclusions about leukemia. Fever can often result from viral infections, which can temporarily lower the WBC count and cause a slight elevation in SGPT (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) or ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels.

For now, symptomatic management should be followed, and a repeat blood test should be done in a week to monitor any changes. You mentioned the absolute WBC count, but it is important to clarify whether you are referring to the absolute neutrophil count (ANC), which is a more specific measure of immune function.

To provide a more accurate assessment, please share your child's complete blood count (CBC) report and peripheral smear examination results. These tests will help us evaluate the blood cell morphology and detect any abnormalities.

Take care, and I hope this information helps. Let me know if you have any further concerns.

Thank you.