A clinical (or general) blood test is an open book from which a doctor can draw a wealth of important information about the patient’s condition. It is not necessary for parents to read and understand this document, but in the typical form of blood analysis there is such a column as “norm”, which means that any person can compare certain actual indicators with “ideal” and determine the presence. In order not to prematurely panic if you see that your baby has low monocytes, a small educational program as to what this may mean.

The role of monocytes

As you know, blood performs many important functions in the human body. One of them is protective. Our immunity works as a well-functioning security service in the state: its task is the timely detection and ruthless destruction of everything alien that enters the body and can cause him potential harm, as well as the fight against the “internal enemy” - its own cells, which have become “traitors” : began to transform, becoming atypical (malignant).
   But in order to identify and neutralize the enemy, omnipresent agents are needed. They are precisely special particles of blood, because blood circulates throughout the body through the network of blood vessels, which means that it can detect disorder wherever its focus is concentrated.

Did you know? The total length of all blood vessels in an adult (veins, arteries and capillaries) is about one hundred thousand kilometers (!). To imagine how much this is, we recall that the length of the equator of the Earth is only some forty thousand kilometers. Moreover, a large circle of blood circulation takes less than half a minute in time.

Thus, it was difficult to come up with a better “controller” of the state of the body than blood.

  The main role in the destruction of the detected "enemies" is precisely what monocytes play. The mechanism of their work is scientifically called phagocytosis. In simple words, monocytes are cells that capture and devour all sorts of muck that gets into our body or is present in it, but “behaves incorrectly” (we are talking not only about bacteria, viruses, fungi and atypical cells, but also about any foreign particles and simply dead cells of your own body).
   It is clear that any security guard, defender, commander, having discovered the danger threatening the object entrusted to him, sends the main forces to the source of the threat to provide worthy resistance. This is how the immune system operates in our body, with the difference that it does not need to keep a huge army "in reserve", if necessary, it is simply created by developing precisely those particles whose task is to destroy the enemy.

Thus, looking a little ahead, already at this stage we can guess that an increase in the number of monocytes in the blood indicates, on the one hand, the presence of a threat, and on the other hand, that the body has independently entered into the struggle.

A monocyte’s life lasts from several days to one and a half to two months (for comparison: platelets live for about a week, granulocytes - for several months, and, say, lymphocytes - for decades, and some even throughout the life of the body). Moreover, in the blood, a monocyte spends only a small part of its life, about 30 hours.
  These particles are born in the bone marrow, then enter the bloodstream. During this period, the particles are not yet fully formed, but at the same time, at this stage, their ability to destroy "enemy armies" is at the maximum level. After a while, most monocytes naturally die, and the other part passes into the tissue, where it finally forms.

Fully ripened monocytes are called monophages, they do not live in the blood, but in various organs, and at the same time they continue to actively engage in phagocytosis (the destruction and digestion of foreign and harmful particles). Due to its large size (12-20 microns), monocytes are capable of absorbing quite large formations of all kinds of “garbage”. If the foreign body cannot be destroyed, the monocyte surrounds it with a kind of protective layer and thus neutralizes it.

Important! Monocytes are found not only in the blood, but also in other organs and systems of a person, in particular, in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Moreover, not only the vital activity of these particles is aimed at killing the “enemies” of the body. Monocytes perform this important function even as a result of their very death: when they die, monophages secrete substances toxic to foreign cells.

Interestingly, throughout the course of a person’s life, the number of particles considered by us varies very little. For this reason, normal indicators in the analysis of blood of an adult and a child are approximately the same, although there are still certain discrepancies (for example, after puberty, the upper norm of the norm of cells of this type in the blood increases slightly).

Important! The standard form for a general blood test in the “norm” column provides indicators applicable to an adult, while they may be completely different (it is also important to consider the age of the child, because the norm for a newborn and the norm for a teenager are two different things). This applies to monocytes to a lesser extent, but parents should be aware that a doctor should still read a blood test.

  So, the norm is when the number of monocytes in the blood is from 3 to 11% of the total number of all white blood cells.In children of different ages, these indicators may vary slightly, in particular, the lower and upper border is:

• for - from 3 to 12%;
• for infants up to 14 days of life - from 5 to 15%;
• for babies from two weeks to one year - from 4 to 10%;
• for children from one to two years - from 3 to 10%;
• for older children - from 3 to 9%.

An ideal indicator for children over two years of age is considered to be 9-10% for this type of particles.

We also note that the above norms are expressed as a percentage, that is, they are relative. Sometimes, however, it is important to determine the absolute number of monocytes in the blood, that is, their specific number in one liter of blood. The norm calculated by a certain formula is 0.09 ∙ 10⁹ / l -0.6 ∙ 109 / l. Thus, when talking about a reduced or increased number of monocytes in the blood, we can talk about the fact that these cells are too few / too many in general or too few / too many in comparison with the total number of leukocytes.

Important! A reduced indicator of monocytes is called monocytopenia, an increased - monocytosis. Relative monocytopenia is said to be when the particle index is less than 3%, absolute — when it is less than 0.09 ∙ 10⁹ / l. Accordingly, relative monocytosis is when there are more than 11% of monocytes, absolute when it is more than 0.6 ∙ 10⁹ / l.

Thus, when talking about lowering the level of this category of particles, it is important to understand what indicators we are talking about - absolute or relative: depending on this, we can conclude where exactly the cause of the deviation from the norm should be sought.

The main reasons for the decline

So, we already understood that monocytosis (when there are too many phagocytes) generally indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. Often, for example, this is characteristic of infectious diseases, as well as diseases that have a long and sluggish course (say, tuberculosis). But what does the situation mean when monocytes in a child, on the contrary, are lowered? In fact, there may be several reasons, and I must say, many of them are quite serious.
  The first is sepsis. This terrible word refers to a situation when a large number of pathogenic microbes are present in the blood of a person that are spread to all organs and tissues (relatively speaking, phagocytes cannot cope with the task assigned to them, enemy agents win at this stage, and defenders die in an unequal battle) .

Second - . This condition is characterized by relative monocytopenia, that is, these particles are not enough at all, but relative to the total number of leukocytes. The pathology consists in the fact that the bone marrow produces too many cells, they do not have time to divide into the necessary species in the correct proportions, and accordingly, they can not properly cope with the task assigned to them. Once in the blood in such an “immature” state, such particles can do more harm than good (leukemia is also called white blood or blood cancer).
  Interestingly, there is the concept of chronic monocytic leukemia - a disease characterized by the presence of growing and damaging surrounding tissues of a tumor located in the blood system and consisting precisely of monocytes that are transformed into atypical cells. To reassure parents, let's say that such an oncological disease very rarely occurs in children and, by the way, is characterized, rather, by an increased number of monocytes in the blood. Here is a paradox.

Important! Blood cancer cannot be diagnosed by a general blood test, since the number of monocytes with this pathology is not always reduced. But if this indicator is still present with established leukemia, it means that the child’s condition is critical, and treatment (if it was carried out) does not give the proper effect. That is why the level of monocytes in the blood helps not so much to establish leukemia as to determine the success of therapy.

The considered results of a general blood test can also indicate a violation of the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow (the so-called aplastic anemia). In this case, indicators of other particles are usually also lowered in the blood. In turn, such a pathology is most often the result of a viral infection, trauma, surgical treatment, medication (in particular, after taking steroidal) or other intoxication of the body, hormonal imbalance and even severe stress or shock.

Sometimes, similar anemia also occurs for such a commonplace reason as folic acid deficiency (vitamin B9). But in certain cases, aplastic anemia can also be congenital in nature.

Another dangerous pathology of the immune system that makes itself felt by a reduced number of phagocytes in the blood is the so-called systemic lupus erythematosus.
This disease is accompanied by damage to the skin, liver, joints, cardiovascular system and even the psyche. One of the most obvious symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus is a characteristic rash on the face in the shape of a butterfly (cheeks + nose bridge). It was from here that the name of the disease came: our distant ancestors associated the location of the rash on the face with wolf bites. Thus, this cause of a “poor blood test" can be discarded if there is no well-defined and noticeable sign of it.

Did you know?Human blood is red due to the iron contained in it, which acts as an oxygen carrier. Some species of spiders have blue blood, since copper is the oxygen carrier in it.

Reducing the level of phagocytes in the blood can be caused by other infectious (especially purulent) and inflammatory diseases, when the immune system does not fully cope with its protective function and loses ground in the face of the enemy. But sometimes even banal worms or simply a general breakdown can cause such an indicator (although in this case you should not ignore the signal, because it indicates that the body's resistance is below normal).
It is also important to understand that lowering lowering discord. Sometimes the analysis shows that the number of monocytes corresponds to zero, in this case it is absolutely necessary to save the child urgently, but a small deviation from the norm below the established limit is rather an occasion to think seriously than to fall into a stupor and say goodbye to life.

By the way, relative monocytosis is also a not very good symptom, when there are a lot of monocytes and few lymphocytes. In general, this is a topic for another discussion, here we just want to once again focus on the fact that it is important to distinguish between relative and absolute deviations from the norm of the indicator of this type of phagocyte in the blood and certainly not to self-medicate.

Diagnostics

Above, we showed that monocytes are below normal - this is not a diagnosis. A similar analysis result indicates a weak body resistance, but it can be caused by two reasons: either serious or the consequences of something bad that happened to the child. So, having received such information for reflection, the doctor will analyze it and establish the reasons for the deviation from the norm. And sensible and wise parents should help him in this.
   Measures that traditionally help to diagnose should include, first and foremost, a careful and comprehensive study of other indicators of a clinical blood test, in particular:

• the total number of leukocytes (we said above that the decrease in monocytes is absolute and relative);
• structure of different types of white blood cells in the blood (in addition to monocytes, this group of particles also includes lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils and neutrophils);
• the presence (if yes, in what quantity) or the absence of immature particles, or blasts, in the blood (as was said, a large number of such can indicate the development of a serious pathology, including a malignant one), etc.

   Sometimes, for proper diagnosis, you need to do a reanalysis to exclude getting a false result.

Important! Blood sampling to determine the level of monocytes is done strictly on an empty stomach (you can’t eat or drink anything other than water for at least ten hours). In addition, the child should be absolutely calm both emotionally and physically. So if your baby struggled in hysterics when he was pricked, the test results should be double-checked and pricked again, after explaining to the little patient that this is not at all scary.

The following is a very detailed survey of parents to identify causes that could provoke a “bad” test result.
  It is important to remember everything: what the child was sick in the near future, what he was taking, were there any serious events in the family that could cause stress, did the child suffer an injury, etc. It depends on how accurately the parents answer the doctor’s questions speed and accuracy of the final diagnosis.

After analyzing all the information obtained from the two above sources, the doctor will determine the direction of further examination, the purpose of which is to accurately establish the cause of the decrease in phagocytes.

Treatment

As we already understood, no one cures lowered monocytes. Treatment should not be aimed at increasing the number of these particles as such, but at eliminating the reason why the child’s body does not resist external threats as it should.

If this reason is an independent diagnosis (sepsis, leukemia, etc.), a low level of monocytes will help to identify it in time and, thus, will make the treatment more successful.

If we are talking about the consequences of what happened earlier, the doctor’s task should be aimed at helping the small patient return to normal as quickly as possible. Sometimes for this it is enough to prescribe the right diet and general recommendations for adjusting the lifestyle. In more complex cases, drug therapy may be required (or, on the contrary, urgent cancellation of drugs that were prescribed earlier), and sometimes even surgical intervention.
   As treatment progresses (whatever it may be), it is imperative that the child undergo a control blood test until all indicators return to normal, and after that, at least six months later for prophylaxis. Immunity is the most valuable thing nature has endowed us with, and you cannot joke with it.

Reduced monocytes in the blood of a child is not a very normal phenomenon, but at the same time it is far from always critical. Suffice it to say that it is in children that the deviation from the norm in the number of cells of this type is more often in a smaller direction than in a larger one. Everything is explained simply: a small organism still does not fully cope with the challenges it has to face.

Sometimes this indicator is, in fact, associated with the presence of a serious disease, but sometimes it can be a banal consequence of an infection or trauma. Therefore, the main thing is not to panic, but to help the doctor establish the true cause of the deviation and prescribe the correct treatment.

The reasons why this syndrome may be in a child are various diseases.

The increase in the number of monocytes in the child’s body is due to the fact that the immune and circulatory systems cannot cope with a large number of harmful microorganisms. In some cases, relative monocytosis is detected after diseases or stressful situations. In some cases, a slight increase in the level of monocytes is an individual feature of the child's body and does not require any treatment.

Symptoms

Monocytosis is not a separate disease. Therefore, the manifestation of any signs indicating the occurrence of the syndrome does not exist. Monocytosis is a symptom that requires timely diagnosis. But an increase in white blood cells in the blood means the onset of the disease. Many patients whose analyzes showed monocytosis showed similar symptoms of poor health:

• Increased drowsiness, weakness of the body;
• Bad mood or abrupt change;
• Signs of colds and infectious diseases;
• Possible increase in body temperature.

Diagnosis of monocytosis in a child

Monocytosis can only be diagnosed with a general blood test. Sometimes this syndrome is detected by chance with regular medical examination of the child and before the manifestation of alarming symptoms of the development of diseases. In order for the analysis result to be accurate, it is necessary to prepare in advance for its delivery. The day before, you can not eat fatty foods, engage in heavy physical exercises, and also, if possible, limit the intake of certain medications. These factors can affect the result of a blood test, which will harm the definition of monocytosis syndrome.

Complications

What is dangerous monocytosis for the baby? This syndrome in itself is not serious and dangerous to the health of the child. But it is a symptom of abnormalities in the child's body and the presence of any disease. Depending on the severity of an existing ailment, the complications and consequences can be different. Untimely treatment of any disease can develop into a chronic form and disrupt the functioning of other organs and systems. For example, if there is no treatment for a cold with signs of a runny nose, a child may develop meningitis. Parents should know that with a weakened immunity of the child, any disease can cause a complication or development of a concomitant illness. Therefore, if the results of a blood test showed the presence of an elevated level of monocytes, a complete diagnosis of the whole organism is necessary. The sooner the cause of monocytosis is identified, the higher the likelihood of a speedy recovery of the baby and the normalization of the number of white blood cells.

Treatment

What can you do

• If the child has been diagnosed with monocytosis, parents should not prescribe treatment on their own.
• Monocytosis is a syndrome and symptom of the presence of a disease in the child's body. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the examination to identify the exact cause of the increase in the level of white blood cells.
• To help the child's body cope with any infection and harmful microorganisms, parents must provide it with a full and fortified diet.
• Vegetables and fruits, proteins, dairy products should be present in the baby's diet daily.
• It takes walks in the fresh air, regular airing indoors.
• From an early age, a child needs to be taught to exercise.
• You can consult a doctor and give your baby vitamin complexes.

What does the doctor do

Monocytosis treatment is not required, as this is not a separate disease. The doctor must identify the exact cause of the increase in the level of monocytes in the baby's circulatory system. For this, various examinations, tests are prescribed, a child is examined. After the diagnosis of the exact disease is established, the doctor will decide on how to treat it. In case of viral infections, antiviral drugs are prescribed, with bacterial and fungal pathogens - antibacterial agents. If minor monocytosis is a normal condition of the baby or his teeth erupt, treatment is not required. To increase immunity, the doctor prescribes the intake of vitamin and mineral preparations.

Prevention

To prevent monocytosis in the baby, it is necessary to monitor his health from birth.

Parents should by all means increase the effectiveness of the child’s immune system.

o Regular stay in the fresh air;

o Proper and nutritious nutrition;

o physical exercise;

o Ventilating and humidifying the air in the child’s room;

o To prevent viral and bacterial diseases, it is necessary to rinse the baby’s nose daily with a saline solution after a walk.

The child should undergo regular medical examinations in the clinic at the place of residence. Timely examinations and tests will help to identify the onset of the disease at an early stage.

In the presence of chronic diseases in the child, avoid their complications.

A condition in which monocytes are elevated in a child’s blood is called monocytosis. Most often it is associated with infectious processes, but there may be other causes (tumors and autoimmune diseases). Monocytosis is always a secondary syndrome that develops as a result of a causative disease. This disease should be diagnosed in order to conduct effective therapy. There is no specific treatment to directly normalize the level of monocytes in the blood. It is always necessary to treat a causative disease.

The number of monocytes in the blood in children depends on their age. However, there are no significant fluctuations (in contrast, for example, to the number of red blood cells). Approximate monocytic norm in children   as follows (values \u200b\u200bare given in percentage terms):

• immediately after birth - 3- 11-12%
• then, until the 14th day of life, their growth is observed - 5-15%
• in children up to a year, they slightly decrease - 4-14%.

And in subsequent ages, they stabilize at almost the same level:

• up to 2 years of age - 3-10%
• up to 16 years of age - 3-9%

In adults, the same standards as in children from 2 to 16 years, i.e. 3-9%. This level of monocytes is maintained throughout life if there are no factors affecting the rate of their formation or utilization.

Monocytes are formed from progenitor cells in the bone marrow. Then they with blood flow enter the tissues affected by the pathological process. They are already differentiating these cells into macrophages, which perform the main functions.

The absolute (abs.) Value of monocytes in children older than 2 years is 0.09-0.6 ∙ 10⁹ / l. Absolute monocytosis is indicated by exceeding the upper limit of the norm.

Thus, monocytosis can be both relative (expressed as a percentage of other white blood cells) and absolute (expressed as the number of cells per 1 liter of blood). Its variant speaks of the functional usefulness or inferiority of the bone marrow.

Causative diseases

The reasons why monocytes are elevated in a child’s blood are divided into 5 main groups:

As an independent reason should be highlighted septic endocarditis. It is caused by special bacteria that stimulate the monocytic immunity and lead to damage to the heart and its valves.

Typical infections in which elevated monocytes in the blood of a child are determined are:

• tuberculosis
• chickenpox
• diphtheria
• parotitis
• rubella
• infectious mononucleosis
• syphilis
• brucellosis
• rickettsiosis
• malaria.

Infectious mononucleosis   - A typical infection for which an increase in monocytes in the blood and the appearance of mononuclear cells is an indispensable sign. The disease is caused by the Epstein-Bar virus.

In some cases, medication can cause monocytosis.   Therefore, the doctor always clarifies with the parents whether the child is currently undergoing treatment or whether it was carried out before which pharmacological agents were taken. The main drugs that provoke leukocytosis can be:

• griseofulvin is an antifungal medication prescribed for the treatment of microsporia (lichen)
• haloperidol - a psychotropic drug that is prescribed for mental disorders
• phosphorus-containing substances.

If the phosphorus content in water or food is significantly higher than normal, then a child’s blood levels are often determined by elevated levels of monocytes. To eliminate this reason, a study of the level of this trace element in the blood is required.

Diagnostic search

A blood test helps not only to identify the existing monocytosis, but also to suggest its most likely cause, depending on the concomitant hematological changes. Options may be as follows:

The degree of monocytosis detected in the general analysis also helps to suggest a possible cause:

• high rates (19% or more) usually indicate infectious mononucleosis or other acute infection. They can also be observed with ulcerative colitis (nonspecific autoimmune disease) and septic endocarditis. A lot of monocytes circulating in the blood in response to an infectious infection are a sign of a normal state of immunity. With immunodeficiency, monocytopenia (a decrease in the number of monocytes) can be observed.

• moderate increase   (about 12-13%) also indicates the chronic course of the disease (most often it is tuberculosis).

A detailed examination of the patient in the presence of monocytosis in the blood should begin after at least 2-fold repetition of the general clinical analysis. This is due to the possibility of obtaining false positive artifact results.

In the case when repeated tests confirm this hematological syndrome, a detailed examination is carried out. For this, in addition to a general clinical blood test in order to establish the true cause of monocytosis the following diagnostic directions are recommended:

• detection of infections by serological method or by PCR. In the first case, antibodies to certain infectious agents are determined, and in the second, the genetic material of a possible pathogen is directly
• microscopic examination of feces to exclude helminthic invasion
• rheumatological tests that help identify autoimmune processes in the body
• blood culture on special media if septic endocarditis is suspected. However, negative culture results do not preclude this diagnosis. Upon receipt, other studies are required.
• allergy skin tests
• bone marrow puncture if abnormal cells or blasts are detected in the analysis.

Hematologist consultation is indicated for all children who have a monocyte count of more than 1 ∙ 10⁹ / l. This will help to timely diagnose a possible leukemoid reaction that develops with tumors of the hematopoietic system.

However, parents should not panic in case of detection of monocytosis in the blood. Children need a detailed examination. As a rule, it reveals other (non-oncological) causes, because monocytic leukemoid reactions in hemoblastoses (blood tumors) are casuistry and not the rule.

All blood cells perform a specific task. Monocytes are cells that are responsible for protecting the body from the entry of foreign microorganisms.

They are a type of white blood cells, only much larger, are found in the blood, as well as lymph nodes and tissues.

They are produced in the bone marrow, circulate through the bloodstream for several days, then pass into the tissues. The most active are young cells that have just left the hematopoietic organ.

In the article, you will find out why monocytes in the child’s blood are elevated and what it says and what it means.

The role of monocytes in children

Children give a general analysis from birth. The children's blood formula is different from the adult, but monocytes perform the same tasks as in adults:

• Capture of a foreign virus or bacteria;
• Destruction of a foreign cell;
• Destruction of foreign bodies.

Monocytes are also required:

Monocytes are a kind of body cleaners, which means that if these cells are normal, they perform their function and pathogenic microflora is not formed in the baby’s blood.

In a blood test, monocytes are determined in percentage and absolute terms. The general analysis indicates the percentage, but with some methods that are used less often, you can determine the absolute number of cells per 1 liter of blood.

An increased number of monocytes is called monocytosis, but if monocytes are less than normal, they speak of monocytopenia in a child.

The norm of monocytes in the blood in children of different ages is slightly different:

• In newborns 3-5%;
• In children under 12 years of age, from 2% to 12%;
• In adolescents, 3% -11%.

After 18 years, the “adult” norm is in force, and it should not exceed 8%.

The norm of the absolute number of monocytes in the blood in children under 12 years old is 0.05 - 1.1 * 109 / l.

The situation when monocytes are reduced is less common. In most cases, this indicates a depletion or long-term use of hormonal drugs. Much more often there is a change in a larger direction from the norm, which indicates the presence of a disease.

Causes of monocytosis in children

If the child is sick, he is prescribed blood tests. Why do monocytes increase in the blood? A sign of what disease is this? When is this the norm, and when is there a reason to worry? Adults need to understand this issue.

Relative monocytosis, or a percentage increase in the number of monocytes in a child’s body, does not provide complete information, as it can be caused by anything from heredity to a recent injury, and also shows recent stresses and illnesses. Sometimes it happens that a slight increase in the percentage of these cells is simply an individual feature.

An increase in the absolute value of monocytes in the blood of a child (absolute monocytosis) indicates violations of a certain nature. An increase of more than 7 billion cells per liter of blood gives a signal that not everything is in order in the children's body.

The following conditions lead to absolute monocytosis:

Monocytosis occurs due to the fact that blood cannot cope with the ingress of a huge amount of harmful substances and organisms, as a result of which increased production of monocytes begins.

Very rarely, but it happens that monocytosis occurs in a child when teething or milk fall out.

It is unlikely to be able to independently find out the reason for the increase, so you need to be prepared for the fact that additional studies will be needed to clarify the diagnosis, which determines the reason for the increase. After a full examination, the pediatrician becomes clear how to proceed. It is possible that anxiety was unnecessary and the baby's circulatory system soon returned to normal.

What to do with elevated monocytes

Scientists have not yet come up with a drug or folk remedy that will reduce elevated monocytes. Monocytosis is not a diagnosis, but a condition that shows the need for an examination to determine the cause.

If the parents know the cause, they should inform the attending physician who prescribed the tests.   If alarming symptoms are found, the doctor will prescribe additional diagnostics to determine the complete picture of the disease.

After the disease is determined, it is urgently necessary to begin its treatment. Treatment that is started on time helps to reduce enlarged monocytes with great effect.

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Increased monocytes and lymphocytes in the blood of a child

With some symptoms, such as diarrhea, enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, difficulty breathing, increased sweating, pay attention to the whole blood formula.

A simultaneous increased rate of monocytes and lymphocytes indicates that an infection develops in the body and a reaction to inflammation occurs.

The reasons:

In order to avoid discrepancies in the analyzes, they should be taken at the same time, preferably in the morning, since after sleep all indicators increase. If the test has always been given on an empty stomach, then you need to continue to take it on an empty stomach.

Blood tests are a mirror of the baby’s health.   You can not ignore the increase or decrease in the norm, so that, if necessary, in time to start treatment and prevent the possible consequences and complications of the disease.

Now you know everything about elevated blood monocytes in a child and what to do about it. About the increased level of monocytes in an adult can be read.

A blood test is the main diagnostic procedure. It is carried out by absolutely everyone. In children, a general blood test helps to find out about the state of the body and start treatment on time. One of the important indicators of the analysis is the level of monocytes. If it is high, the child develops monocytosis. This is not a disease, but only a consequence of infection, inflammation or poisoning.

What are monocytes and what are they for?

Most people know only three of the most important components of human blood: red blood cells (carry oxygen), white blood cells (fight infections), platelets (help blood clot and “seal” damaged vessel walls). In addition to them, there are still a large number of elements in the blood, among which are monocytes.

These are small blood elements that begin to act if any foreign cells and substances enter human tissues. The main tasks of monocytes are as follows:

The number of monocytes in the blood may vary, depending on the age and characteristics of human life. Also, the causes of monocytosis in a child and an adult can differ significantly. In some cases, elevated blood monocytes in a child stabilize without treatment.

When decoding the analysis, the number of monocytes is compared with the number of red blood cells in a percentage ratio. In children, this indicator should range from 2 to 12%. Departures to the larger side are possible at the age of the year and during puberty. Monocytes should always be present in the blood: they not only fight infections, but also purify the blood. The absence of these blood elements is the reason for urgent medical attention.

Causes of changes in the level of monocytes in the blood

Most often, an increase in the level of monocytes is observed.. The main reason is the high need for the protection of body tissues when foreign cells enter. Most often, an elevated level of blood elements occurs in the following cases:

In various cases, the reasons for the increase in monocytes may not be associated with diseases and poisoning. Elevated monocyte count   in the bloodstream, there has been some time to cure inflammation and infections, especially in infants with weakened immunity. In children under two years of age, an elevated level of these elements is present during teething.

A low level of monocytes occurs due to leukemia, with purulent foci, with prolonged exposure to chemotherapy or radiation, stress and shock, hysteria, and the use of steroid drugs. A low level of monocytes is very dangerous, as the body loses its immune defense against infections and inflammations.

How to get tested for monocytes

Any deviation in the analysis in one direction or another is a sign of a disease or pathology. But monocytes can change not only due to illness. Quite often, the analyzes have an erroneous result, and in half the cases this happens not because of the error of the laboratory assistant, but because of incorrect preparation for the analysis.

To determine the level of monocytes   it is necessary to pass a general blood test:

In case of suspicion   on an erroneous result of the analysis, blood must be donated again.

What to do with monocytosis in a child

In many cases, elevated monocytes in a child's blood are not detected during the diagnosis of any disease, but during a routine examination and tests. A high monocyte count worries parents therefore they must know how to proceed.

The action plan for monocytosis in a child: