Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffA low white blood cell count usually is caused by one of the following:
- Viral infections that temporarily disrupt bone marrow function
- Congenital disorders characterized by diminished bone marrow function
- Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow
- Autoimmune disorders that destroy white blood cells or bone marrow cells
- Overwhelming infections that use up white blood cells faster than they can be produced
- Drugs that destroy white blood cells or damage bone marrow
Specific causes of low white blood cell count include:
- Aplastic anemia
- Certain medications, such as antibiotics and diuretics
- Chemotherapy
- HIV/AIDS
- Hypersplenism, a premature destruction of blood cells by the spleen
- Infectious diseases
- Kostmann's syndrome, a congenital disorder involving low neutrophil production
- Leukemia
- Lupus
- Malnutrition
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Myelokathexis, a congenital disorder involving failure of neutrophils to enter the bloodstream
- Other autoimmune disorders
- Other congenital disorders
- Parasitic diseases
- Radiation therapy
- Vitamin deficiencies
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
References
- Kumar V, et al. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0792-2..X5001-9--TOP&isbn=978-1-4377-0792-2&about=true&uniqId=376703042-2. Accessed Oct. 27, 2012.
- Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Oct. 27, 2012.
- Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Oct. 27, 2012
Share on:
Find Mayo Clinic on