Leukopenia in Children
Leukopenia is a hematologic abnormality due to decrease in the amounts of white blood cells (WBC) or leukocytes in the blood stream. The white blood cells are basically the defense mechanism of our body that help fighting infections and diseases. Generally the white blood count in people varies with their age, sex and health conditions. However, in adults the normal white blood cell count ranges between 4500 to 11000 per cubic millimeter of blood and in children or adolescent it ranges from 2000 to 4000 per cubic millimeter of blood. Hence if the white blood cell count falls below these ranges, the person is considered to be suffering from leukopenia. Moreover, since each WBC has several subtypes with specific disease fighting activity, decrease in the number of leukocytes can make the body non-immune to various health ailments. Hence children who do not have a well developed and strong immune system are at a higher risk of infectious diseases, especially if diagnosed with leukopenia. After knowing what is leukopenia, let us now move on the various causes for leukopenia in children.
Causes of Leukopenia in Children
Given below are some of the medical conditions that can be probable causes for leukopenia in children.
Malaria: Malaria is one of the most common infective diseases in children caused by sporozoan parasites that get transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. The condition is characterized by paroxysms of chills and fever, and commonly prevails in endemic and hyper-endemic areas.
Aplastic Anemia: Another common cause for leukopenic in children is aplastic anemia, a blood disorder wherein the bone marrow is unable to produce sufficient new blood cells to replenish dying blood cells.
Vitamin Deficiency: Vitamin deficiency in children or lack of one or two vitamins in the body can also lead to leukopenia in children. The conditions occurs mainly due to inadequate dietary intakes or inability of the body to efficiently absorb nutrients and vitamins from the food consumed.
Septicemia: Septicemia or sepsis is referred to as an acute invasion of the bloodstream by virulent microorganisms like bacteria or their toxin products. The condition is often characterized by high fever, chills, shivering, vomiting, etc.
Banti’s Syndrome: Though rare, Banti’s syndrome is another probable cause for leukopenia in children. In this condition there is a chronic congestive spleen enlargement mainly due to obstruction of blood flow to the organ which destroys the red as well as white blood cells in the body. Blood in vomit, weakness, diarrhea, flatulence, etc. are some of the common symptoms noticed in children with Banti’s syndrome.
Leukemia: The term leukemia basically refers to cancer of the white blood cells. Leukemia in children occurs due to production of large number abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. These cells are defective, interfere with the body’s production of other types of blood cells and so are unable to protect the body against any disease or infection.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a life long, potentially fatal autoimmune disease which occurs due to a chronic inflammation of the connective tissues of different parts of the body, including joints, kidneys, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls.
