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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes An Increase In The Wbc Count?

My 94 yr. old mother has pneumonia and is being treated in the hospital. today the DR. took away all food and liquids thinking that she is aspirating which is causing a continuing increase in her wbcount. She has been in ICU and now in a regular room and has been treated with antibiotics for 12 days now. Her wbc was 24000. What is her prognosis and what can we expect at this point?
Mon, 24 Nov 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and thanks for your question. The white blood cells become elevated when the body is fighting off infections, like pneumonia so it is normal that her WBC would be elevated in this situation. Pneumonia is very serious in older patients. The fact that she is out of ICU and in a regular room is a good sign that she is on her way to recovery. It is hard to tell you what to expect at this point but if she is able to fight off the infection with the help of antibiotics she could make a full recovery.
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What Causes An Increase In The Wbc Count?

Hello and thanks for your question. The white blood cells become elevated when the body is fighting off infections, like pneumonia so it is normal that her WBC would be elevated in this situation. Pneumonia is very serious in older patients. The fact that she is out of ICU and in a regular room is a good sign that she is on her way to recovery. It is hard to tell you what to expect at this point but if she is able to fight off the infection with the help of antibiotics she could make a full recovery.