Just got over a NASTY cold! My counts are lower

[Ryan Jay]

Hi everyone,

I just had a horrible cold/cough that lasted about two weeks. I was pretty much stuck in bed, sweating and taking all kinds of cold medication. It ran about the same course for everyone around me too. Anyway my counts were cruising upwards 5 months post ATG...and they seemed to have dropped a little after the infection.


Pre cold 12/30 Post cold (today)

HGB 11.1 10.8

WBC 3.3 3.2

ANC 2.0 1.6

PLT 65 67

I'll talk to my doctor in a few days. Can an infection throw off your numbers?

Thanks,

Ryan

[Birgitta-A]

Hi Ryan,
Yes, infections can decrease counts - hopefully your counts will continue to increase now when you feel better.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[Marlene]

They sure can. Fevers can use go through platelets and red cells somehow. Don't what the mechanism is but it can cause a temporary drop in counts.

[squirrellypoo]

I agree. When I had swine flu in December my counts (which have all been normal for well over a year now) definitely took a hit, with the neutrophils down the most. I just had a routine checkup on Monday (about a month after the flu)and everything was back to where it should be.

[Neil Cuadra]

While other counts drop, an increased white count is common with infections because your immune system has ramped up to fight it. Sometimes an increased white count will alert you to an infection.