“My son has a very high white blood cell count. What's next?”
A recent blood test showed that my 12 year old son has a very high white blood cell count. What could this mean and what will happen next in order to determine what is happening with his health?
3 Answers
It could be bacterial or viral infection, but if the culture is negative, he needs to have a bone marrow evaluation to R/O leukemia.
If it is not elevated because of an infection it may be a leukemia. The differential count should answer that question.
I would repeat a CBC with differential. If it remains high and your son is not actively sick or on a medication like Prednisone which can raise the white count, I would ask your pediatrician for a referral to a hematology physician to further assess. I recommend seeing your pediatrician ASAP.
