What does a low white blood cell count mean?
A low white blood cell count can be caused by a number of things. This condition is medically known as leukopenia. There are various things that can cause leukopenia including infections of a viral nature such as HIV, medication that is used for chemotherapy and certain other antibiotics. Radiation therapy and autoimmune disorders can also be responsible for a low white blood count. Leukaemia known as blood cancer and myelodysplastic which are both bone marrow diseases can also cause a low white blood cell count. White blood cells are very important to the human body as they help fight infections. A normal white blood cell count ranges from between five thousand to ten thousand cells per microliter of blood. If the white blood count drops below two thousand five hundred per microliter it can prove very dangerous to a person’s health.