What to eat to quickly recover from leukopenia?

Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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There are mainly three reasons for leukopenia: the first is the impaired production of white blood cells, the second is the excessive destruction of white blood cells, and the third is the redistribution of white blood cells. Therefore, for leukopenia, the main approach is etiological treatment. If leukopenia is suspected to be caused by certain drugs or other pathogenic factors, generally, stopping the use of these drugs and avoiding contact can lead to the recovery of white blood cells to normal levels. For this kind of secondary decrease of white blood cells, we usually treat the primary disease. Once the symptoms of the primary disease are alleviated and controlled, the white blood cell count can return to normal without the need for additional medication. Moreover, the greatest risk of leukopenia is the fear of infection, but mildly reduced patients generally do not require special treatment. However, as the severity of leukopenia increases, the risk of infection increases, and at this point, some preventative measures against infection can be taken. Particularly for patients with neutropenia who are highly susceptible to severe infections, sterile isolation may be employed, and the specific sites and types of infections identified. This allows for the use of sensitive antibiotics; for viral infections, antiviral drugs can be administered. Additionally, broad-spectrum antibiotics capable of covering both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria can be used. Furthermore, while preventing infection, it is also important to promote the production of granulocytes. This typically requires ruling out serious hematologic diseases before using medications that promote white blood cell production, such as B vitamins and squalene. However, these treatments are only symptomatic. The primary focus should still be on correcting the underlying cause to maintain white blood cells within a normal range. (Please consult a doctor before using any medication and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
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How to treat leukopenia?

The treatment plan for leukopenia primarily depends on the cause of the decreased white blood cells. If the cause is related to blood cancer, further examinations like bone marrow biopsy are needed, followed by treatment of the primary disease. The second most common scenario is liver cirrhosis, which can lead to a decrease in all three blood cell lines, causing reduction in white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. In such cases, treatment options may include splenectomy or the use of oral medications that increase white blood cell count. However, these treatments only address the symptoms and not the root cause, which is liver cirrhosis, thus the primary disease still requires treatment. The third scenario involves severe bacterial and viral infections, where a decrease in white blood cells indicates a serious condition, necessitating further antiviral or anti-infection treatments. (Please follow the guidance of a professional physician for medication use, and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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Leukopenia is a condition.

Leukopenia is defined as a condition in which the white blood cell count in peripheral blood persistently remains below 4 times 10 to the ninth power per liter. Since the components of white blood cells are mainly neutrophils and lymphocytes, particularly dominated by neutrophils, leukopenia is mostly caused by a decrease in neutrophils. The causes of leukopenia can be categorized into primary and secondary types. Primary leukopenia refers to cases where the cause is unknown, while secondary leukopenia could be due to acute infections, physical or chemical factors, or certain diseases such as hematologic disorders, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases, or genetic disorders. In addition, there are also some acquired or idiopathic cases of granulocytopenia that fall under the category of leukopenia. Typical symptoms of leukopenia include dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, reduced appetite, and mental sluggishness.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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What are the symptoms of leukopenia?

Leukopenia is a common hematological disorder that can occur at any age. It is defined as leukopenia when the total number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood consistently falls below four times ten to the ninth power per liter. The onset of this disease is usually gradual with mild symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, low fever, prone to pharyngitis or mucosal ulcerations, and also includes loss of appetite, limb fatigue, insomnia with frequent dreams, and a cold stomach and backache. It makes one more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections such as colds. If leukopenia is caused by an infection, common symptoms include high fever, chills, and body aches. If the total number of white blood cells is significantly reduced, with an absolute neutrophil count below 0.5 times ten to the ninth power per liter, it is referred to as neutropenia. In such cases, the patient may experience chills, high fever, sore throat, headache, joint pain, and in severe cases, even coma and death.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
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Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are what diseases

Diseases caused by decreased white blood cells and platelets are often related to our hematological system, since both white blood cells and platelets are produced by our hematopoietic factors. When there is a decrease in both white blood cells and platelets, we generally consider that there might be an issue with our hematopoietic system. The most common conditions could be diseases related to the hematological system, such as leukemia, or aplastic anemia. These conditions can cause a decrease in the mentioned indices. Another disease is cirrhosis, especially in patients in the compensatory stage, which can lead to hyperfunctioning of the spleen. The spleen is also an immune organ, as well as a part of our hematopoietic system, so when the spleen is hyperactive, it can also result in decreased white blood cells and platelets.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
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Can you eat pumpkin with leukopenia?

Leukopenia has no significant relation to consuming pumpkin. The main nutritional contents of pumpkin are starch, which ultimately breaks down into fructose and glucose, and pumpkin also contains a large amount of cellulose. Fructose, glucose, and cellulose do not cause leukopenia, so it is safe for people with leukopenia to eat pumpkin. The primary causes of leukopenia are usually related to disturbances in the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, such as myelodysplasia or bone marrow suppression caused by radiation therapy. Additionally, it can be caused temporarily by certain medications. Therefore, it is important to actively treat any underlying diseases causing the leukopenia.