We know that our defense mechanism is important, but we do not know enough about our cells that perform this important task. Lymphocytes, a type of soldier of our defense mechanism called white blood cells, have a vital importance in this fight. Lymphocytes, which have three subtypes, detect foreign substances, mobilize the body to take the necessary precautions and destroy the infected cells.
Like all white blood cells that make up our defense mechanism, lymphocyte is an extremely important cell. For this reason, the result obtained when measured in blood tests is of vital importance. High or low levels may be a sign that something is not right in our body. Let’s examine in detail what is lymphocyte, how many it should be, and what its low and high mean.
Let’s start with the basics, what is a lymphocyte?
Lymphocyte, also known by the abbreviation LYM, is one of the five types of white blood cells, or white blood cells, produced in the bone marrow. Just like other types of white blood cells, the task of the lymphocyte is to fight foreign substances such as viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi that enter our body. Since there are three sub-types of lymphocyte, its task is much heavier.
What are the types of lymphocytes, what are they good for?
- B cells
- T cells
- NK cells
B cells:
B cells make up 10 percent of the total lymphocytes in our body. B cells that have an antibody of their own stay where they are produced and are generally in constant numbers. Proteins and antibodies are produced to mark each foreign pathogen that enters our body and destroy them.
T cells:
T cells make up 80 percent of the total lymphocytes in our body. T cells are formed as a result of the maturation of B cells to the lymph node called thymus in our chest. The main task of T cells, which are also found in regions such as tonsils, spleen, intestines, and lymphoids, is to warn other defense mechanism cells about foreign pathogens entering our body.
In cases such as COVID-19, colds and flu, T cells initiate a series of chemical reactions by secreting a chemical called cytokine, thereby stimulating other defense mechanism cells. If T cells secrete too much of this chemical, a situation called a cytokine storm will occur in the body, and this can be life-threatening.
NK cells:
NK is short for the word natural killer. NK cells make up 10 percent of the total lymphocytes in our body. NK cells do not attack foreign pathogens that enter our body. It attacks our own body cells that have been affected by a tumor or virus. In other words, NK cells destroy our own cells, which are infected by being affected by the enemy.
What should be the ideal lymphocyte value?
- Between 3000 – 9500 mcL in children
- Between 1000 – 4800 mcL in adults
This is how lymphocyte values are considered ideal, that is, healthy, in children and adults. However, the rate of lymphocytes in the blood varies according to the age, gender and diseases of the person. For example, although the lymphocyte value of pregnant women and babies is much different from the ideal range, it is not always considered high or low due to their special circumstances.
What is low lymphocyte, what does it mean?
A lymphocyte value below 1000 mcL in adults and below 3000 mcL in children as a result of the blood test is called lymphopenia, that is, low lymphocyte levels. A low lymphocyte value is a sign that the person’s defense mechanism is weak. The body’s inability to produce enough lymphocytes, and even if they do, they remain in the spleen or lymph nodes and do not mix with the blood, which can also cause low lymphocyte levels.
Symptoms of low lymphocyte:
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- chill
- Fire
- runny nose
- Joint pain
- Cough
- skin rash
- night sweats
- abnormal weight loss
People with lymphopenia, that is, low lymphocytes, do not generally have many symptoms. However, due to diseases that develop due to the weakness of the defense mechanism, one or more of these symptoms can be seen at the same time.
Causes of low lymphocyte:
- Flu
- common cold
- infectious diseases
- AIDS
- Different types of cancer
- Not enought feeding
- Stress
- Chemotherapy
- cortisone treatment
In general, these are the diseases that cause lymphopenia, that is, low lymphocyte levels in the person. However, low lymphocyte levels are not necessarily caused by a disease. Your doctor, who examines the results of the blood test, will make the most accurate diagnosis.
What is good for low lymphocyte?
- C vitamin
- lean fish meat
- Milk and milk products
Consuming these foods in temporary situations that cause low lymphocyte levels will often increase the lymphocyte value to the ideal range. However, if it is a disease that causes lymphopenia, the lymphocyte value will remain low unless this disease is treated.
What is lymphocyte elevation, what does it mean?
Lymphocyte value over 4800 mcL in adults and 9500 mcL in children as a result of blood test results is called lymphocytosis, that is, lymphocyte elevation. The main cause of lymphocyte elevation is infections in our body. In other words, when we are sick, the lymphocyte value increases, but it is not always a good thing to be high.
Symptoms of lymphocyte elevation:
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fire
Just like low lymphocyte levels, high lymphocyte levels do not show symptoms on their own. However, if we already have any infectious disease, the body shows the symptoms of this disease and this becomes the symptoms that show that our lymphocyte value is high.
What are the causes of lymphocyte elevation, what is good?
- Measles
- Mumps
- Jaundice
- Tuberculosis
- Brucella
- vasculitis
- AIDS
In general, these are the conditions that cause lymphocytosis, that is, lymphocyte elevation. Even if there is no such disease in infants, children and pregnant women, the lymphocyte value may be high. Since the lymphocyte elevation is often caused by a disease, the best thing for this situation is to treat the disease with the method recommended by your doctor.
When does the lymphocyte ratio become dangerous?
When your lymphocyte value is low, your defense mechanism weakens, and when it is high, a cytokine storm may occur. In other words, non-ideal lymphocyte ratio is always dangerous. However, the person who will decide whether it is dangerous or not is a specialist physician, as this rate may change depending on conditions such as age, gender, and illness.
We answered the questions of what is a lymphocyte, a type of white blood cell, and what are its types, in all details. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Do not forget that you should get the most accurate and specific information about your lymphocyte value from a specialist physician, as in all health issues.
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