Why does a child’s lymphocyte count appear high?

Generally speaking, the standards for children's routine blood tests are different from those for adults. If a child has a high white blood cell count, this is mostly a normal physiological phenomenon. Usually, as the child grows, it will gradually approach that of an adult. However, if the baby has a high lymphocyte count, parents need to pay more attention to the child's physical condition, conduct regular check-ups, and actively seek treatment once the disease is detected.

An increase in the proportion of lymphocytes is common in viral infections, such as hepatitis B, or other viral causes. If you have no other discomfort in your body, your current blood test only shows a slightly higher level of lymphocytes. You only need to check regularly.

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell and the smallest white blood cell. They are produced by lymphoid organs and are an important cellular component of the body's immune response function. Lymphocytes are a type of cell line with immune recognition function. According to their migration, surface molecules and functions, they can be divided into T lymphocytes (also known as T cells), B lymphocytes (also known as B cells) and natural killer (NK) cells. T cells and B cells are both antigen-specific lymphocytes, and their original source is the same, both from hematopoietic tissues. T lymphocytes circulate in the blood to the thymus and mature under the action of thymic hormones, while B cells differentiate and mature in the bone marrow.

When stimulated by antigens, T lymphocytes are transformed into lymphoblasts and then differentiated into sensitized T lymphocytes, participating in cellular immunity. Their immune function is mainly to resist intracellular infection, tumor cells and allogeneic cells. B lymphocytes are first transformed into plasmablasts and then differentiated into plasma cells, producing and secreting immunoglobulins (antibodies) and participating in humoral immunity. Their function is to produce antibodies, present antigens, and secrete intracellular factors to participate in immune regulation. NK cells spontaneously exert cytotoxic effects independent of antigen stimulation and have the function of killing target cells.

Clinical significance

1. Increase

① Infectious diseases: such as measles, rubella, chickenpox, mumps, etc.;

② Certain blood diseases: such as lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoma, etc.;

③The recovery period of acute infectious diseases;

④The rejection reaction period after organ transplantation, etc.

2. Reduce

Application of chemical drugs such as cortical hormones or exposure to radiation, immunodeficiency diseases, acute phase of certain infectious diseases, etc.