What is the medical term meaning low lymphocytes?

Answer 1

Lymphocytopaenia
Lymphocytes are an integral part of our immune system. These white blood cells are present in the blood and lymphatic system and organs of the immune system. Lymphocytes, along with the other white blood cells that are found in the blood, act against microorganisms such as bacteria, virus and fungi (yeast) to nullify them and to protect the body from Infectious Diseases. Low levels of lymphocytes is a health condition which is an indicator that something is wrong with our immune system. This condition of low lymphocytes can invite diseases to come on strongly and cause harm to the body. There can be many causes of low lymphocyte levels in the body which we will learn about in the later part of this article.

Of all the white blood cells, which are also called leukocytes, lymphocytes account for 25-33 percent. The normal lymphocyte count when converted to more understandable numbers, comes to 1,000-4,800 and 3,000-9,500 of lymphocytes per microliter of blood in adults and children respectively.

The condition of low lymphocyte count is termed as lymphocytopenia which can have many causes associated with it. A list of causes includes:

• Lymphocytopenia can be due to the body's inability to produce enough lymphocytes which may happen because of some immune system diseases like lymphoma, leukemia, etc.
• Body produces enough of them, but a majority of them are abnormal and are destroyed leading to a shortage.
• Lymphocytes cannot pass through the spleen or lymph nodes into the blood and are trapped and localized.
• A person may even suffer from a combination or all the above conditions leading to lymphocytopenia.