Physicians often recommend several blood tests to their patients when they are sick. One of the most frequently recommended tests is complete blood count (CBC). This simple blood test gives an overall picture of blood in disease as well as in normal health. The test tells about amount of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC).
Polymorphs are one of the constituent of white blood cells in the blood. They are also commonly referred as neutrophils. In some diseases their level elevates than normal while in few other diseases the level decreases than normal range.
Function Of Polymorphs
Their function is to protect the body from infection and inflammation caused by several diseases. They do so by engulfing invading bacteria, foreign body, wastes in body, trauma or any type of stress present on the body. At least 50 to 70 percent consists of polymorphs from total WBC count.
Polymorphs are extremely small and they can be visualized only under a microscope. The average size of polymorphs is 8 to 15 microns in a blood smear seen under the microscope. They are manufactured in bone marrow.
They die immediately after ingesting the bacteria or an offending agent. The pus that you see oozing out from a boil or an abscess is mainly made up of dead polymorphs. The whitish color of pus is due to polymorphs. Polymorphs act very fast in situations where they are needed the most. They reach to the designated place within one hour due to several types of chemical signals sent to them.
What Causes High Polymorphs In Blood?
As said earlier the main job of polymorphs is to defend the body from microorganisms and substances which harm the body. When the immune system of the body senses trouble in the form of bacterial infection or inflammation in any part of the body it sends the signal to increase production of white blood cell count and its main component the polymorphs.
As a result you may observe increased percentage of polymorph in the blood report if there is an infection or inflammatory stress in the body. Here are list of disorders where you will find high polymorph count.
- Raised level of polymorph is seen in almost all bacterial infection such as pneumonia, boils, abscess, bronchitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, bacillary dysentery, meningitis etc.
- Inflammation which is common in polymyalgia rheumatica, polyarthritis nodosa, cellulitis, burns, heart attack etc.
- It can also increase in certain stress such as after exercise, seizures.
- Polymorphs also increase in numbers after surgery due to postoperative stress.
- Certain drugs such as corticosteroids and lithium can cause increased level of polymorphs in blood.
Low Level Of Polymorphs In Blood
Certain disorders and conditions can cause decrease in polymorphs. It occurs mainly when the immune system of the body is compromised or depressed. When the number of polymorphs reduces, the condition is also termed as neutropenia. Depressed immune system cannot trigger the production of polymorphs in the bone marrow. It may also occur when there is damage in bone marrow independently. Here is list of conditions where polymorph count in blood is low:
- Virus infection
- Sepsis
- Kala azar
- Folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Enlarged spleen as it occur in polycythemia vera.
- Bone marrow diseases such as leukemia.
- Drugs such as sulfonamides, carbimazole, methotraxate, and several other immune suppressive drugs.