The child has elevated red blood cells

It can be concerning when your child’s blood test results indicate elevated red blood cells. It makes sense that you would want to know what this means for your child’s health as a parent. Red blood cells are essential for distributing oxygen throughout the body, but an increase in their quantity could be an indication of an anomaly. However, there are numerous reasons why this could occur, so don’t panic.

Simple factors like dehydration or prolonged exposure to high altitudes can occasionally be linked to elevated red blood cell counts. At times, it might be the body’s reaction to a specific medical issue. It’s important to consider all the relevant factors, such as any additional symptoms and your doctor’s recommendations.

Your concerns can be reduced and you can be guided in making the best choices for your child’s health by being aware of the possible causes and knowing when to seek additional medical advice.

What number of red blood cells is considered elevated

The primary job of red blood cells in the human body is to carry gases from one place to another. All organs and tissues receive oxygen from the lungs through these blood cells, which gives them nourishment and allows them to function normally.

In addition, red blood cells "take" carbon dioxide from the tissues and assist in moving it to the lungs’ alveoli, where it is expelled from the body during breathing. For this reason, a child’s total body health depends greatly on having a normal amount of red blood cells.

The following is thought to be the upper bound of the norm for the quantity of red blood cells at various ages:

In infants

Five days into one’s life

The tenth day following birth

In newborns at one month

In kids older than one year

Starting at the age of fifteen

Erythrocytosis is the term used to describe the condition that occurs when the analysis form shows a higher than expected number of red blood cells. When such an indicator is found, it’s critical to determine whether it’s the result of a serious illness or something more physiological.

A child with elevated red blood cells may have a number of underlying medical conditions, ranging from dehydration to more serious problems like lung or heart problems. Even though a small increase might not be concerning, it’s still vital to speak with a physician to identify the reason and take the necessary action. Parents can ensure their child’s wellbeing and respond to this change more effectively if they are aware of the possible causes.

Types of erythrocytosis

Two types of erythrocytosis are distinguished based on the cause of the quantitative changes in blood cells:

1. Relative. With such an increase in the indicator, the actual number of red blood cells is not increased, and the erythrocytosis itself is caused by thickening of the blood and loss of plasma, for example, due to dehydration as a result of sweating, diarrhea, very dry air in the room, bouts of vomiting, high temperature and the influence of other factors.
2. Absolute. Such erythrocytosis, which is also called true, is associated with an increase in the number of red blood cells. Most often, it occurs due to increased formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow.

Causes

Certain factors that induce erythrocytosis do not endanger children and have a transient effect on the child’s blood. Additional factors deteriorate the child’s condition and raise the possibility of major problems developing.

Living in a mountainous area is one of the innocuous factors that causes the appearance of an increased number of red blood cells in the child’s blood. The corresponding appearance of more red blood cells in such circumstances helps ward off mountain sickness.

A modest rise in the quantity of red blood cells may result from the following if the child does not reside in the mountains:

• Diarrhea or vomiting with an intestinal infection.
• Elevated body temperature with acute respiratory viral infections or other diseases, the symptom of which is fever.
• Intense sweating during physical exertion or high temperature.
• Regular sports training.
• Staying in a hot climate or in a room with dry hot air.
• Passive smoking of the child, when one of the parents often smokes in his presence.
• Drinking low-quality water that contains chlorine, as well as the child"s passion for carbonated water.

Large-scale burns can also result in relative erythrocytosis by causing the child’s blood to thicken and losing proteins and plasma. An elevated red blood cell count in infants is frequently linked to the hypoxia the child endured while still inside the mother.

True erythrocytosis is brought on by illnesses like:

• Erythremia. Its other names are "Vaquez-Osler disease" and "polycythemia". With this pathology, all blood cells are actively produced in the bone marrow, but more red blood cells are produced than others. This is a benign tumor process that can be provoked by ionizing radiation, toxic damage to the bone marrow, or a gene mutation.
• Chronic diseases of the respiratory system, especially with obstruction. Due to prolonged hypoxia caused by frequent bronchitis, bronchial asthma and other lung diseases, more red blood cells are formed in the child"s body to provide the cells with oxygen in the volume they need.
• Congenital heart defects, especially from the "blue" group, which cause pulmonary circulatory failure (for example, tetralogy of Fallot).
• Hypernephroma, in which the kidney produces more erythropoietin, a substance that stimulates the development of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
• Itsenko-Cushing"s disease. With this pathology, more corticosteroid hormones are produced, which stimulate the bone marrow and inhibit the function of the spleen.

Symptoms

Relative erythrocytosis does not usually cause any particular symptoms in children. In the event that the child’s intestinal or viral infection is the root cause, the symptoms will match the illness.

In a child, you can suspect true erythrocytosis by:

• The acquisition of a red color by the skin. The skin tone of the child first becomes pink, and then darker, sometimes purple-bluish. In this case, changes are noticeable in all areas of the body, as well as on the mucous membranes.
• The appearance of pain in the fingers and toes. This symptom is caused by impaired blood flow in small vessels, since the large number of red blood cells increases blood viscosity. Due to oxygen starvation that develops in the tissues, burning paroxysmal pains appear.
• Frequent headaches. This symptom is caused by impaired blood circulation in small cerebral vessels.
• Enlargement of the spleen. The work of this organ is associated with the utilization of blood cells, therefore, with an excess of red blood cells, the spleen is overloaded, as a result of which the size of this organ increases.
• The appearance of a persistent increase in blood pressure. This symptom is inherent in erythrocytosis caused by renal pathology. At the same time, high blood pressure causes increased fatigue, deterioration of vision and other symptoms in the child.

What is the danger of erythrocytosis

A small increase in red blood cells does not endanger the child’s health, but a large excess over the normal marker can result in thrombosis and blood thickening. This puts breathing and brain function issues at risk, as well as the development of complications like a heart attack or stroke. That is why marked erythrocytosis cannot be disregarded at all.

Although a child’s elevated red blood cell count can be concerning, it’s crucial to keep in mind that this is only one aspect of the picture. This could be brought on by a variety of things, including dehydration and more serious medical issues. A physician’s guidance is necessary for a correct diagnosis, as they will consider the child’s overall health as well as any further tests that may be necessary.

The most important thing to do if your child’s red blood cell count is higher than normal is to remain composed and do as your doctor instructs. Most of the time, the problem can be resolved with minor lifestyle adjustments or, if necessary, additional medical care. Remember that every child is different and that the best strategy will depend on the particular circumstances.

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