Lymphocytes is a type of white blood cell. Like other white blood cells, they are part of the system immunity bodytasked with fightingand prevent infectious diseases, and help fight cancer.
Lymphocytes are divided into three types, namely B cells, T cells, and cells natural killer. If the number of lymphocytes is less than the normal limit, it is feared that it can make the body susceptible to infection, increase the risk of developing cancer, and cause damage to various organs.
The condition with low lymphocyte levels is called lymphocytopenia. This condition occurs in adults if the lymphocytes in the blood are below 1,500 per microliter of blood. Meanwhile, children will be considered to have lymphocytopenia if their lymphocyte levels are below 3,000 per microliter of blood.
Symptoms of lymphocytopenia are generally non-specific and are often found during blood tests for other diseases, such as fever, cough, runny nose, joint pain, skin rash, weight loss, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Various Conditions Cause Low Lymphocytes
Low lymphocytes can be caused by several things, for example when the body does not produce enough lymphocytes, lymphocytes are fought and destroyed by the immune system, and lymphocytes are trapped in the spleen or lymph nodes. These things can be triggered by various factors, such as:
1. Malnutrition
Malnutrition or malnutrition is the most common trigger of lymphocytopenia. This can happen because the body lacks protein and other essential nutrients needed to produce lymphocytes.
Research also suggests that zinc deficiency can impair immune system health, leading to low T-cell lymphocyte levels and other immune system dysfunctions.
2. Autoimmune disorders
Autoimmune disorders are conditions that occur when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues. Some diseases that are included in autoimmune disorders and can reduce lymphocyte levels include:
- Lupus
- Myasthenia gravis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
In addition, certain immunosuppressant drugs used to treat autoimmune disorders can also trigger lymphocytopenia.
3. Infection
All types of infections, whether viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal, can reduce the number of lymphocytes in the body. The example is:
- HIV
- Histoplasmosis
- Influenza
- Malaria
- viral hepatitis
- Tuberculosis
- Typhoid fever
- Sepsis
4. Digestive disorders
Some digestive disorders have the potential to damage the intestinal wall, so that it can have an impact on the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Ultimately, this can also lead to low lymphocyte levels. The example is:
- Amyloidosis
- celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Ulcerative colitis
5. Congenital diseases
Although rare, lymphocytopenia can also be triggered by congenital diseases, including:
- Ataxia-telangiectasia
- DiGeorge Anomaly
- Combined immunodeficiency syndrome
- Wiskott-Aldrich . syndrome
6. Cancer
Cancers, especially blood or lymphatic cancers, such as lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and leukemia, can lower lymphocyte levels. Likewise with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, both methods of cancer treatment are also at risk of triggering lymphocytopenia.
7. Treatment
In addition to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, there are also drugs whose side effects can reduce the number of lymphocytes, namely:
- Azathioprine
- Carbamazepine
- cimetidine
- Corticosteroids
- Dimethyl fumarate
- Imidazole
- Interferon
- Metheotrexate
- Opioids
How to Overcome Lymphocyte Disorders
If you have lymphocytopenia or low lymphocytes, this condition must be treated according to the underlying cause, such as:
- Replacement or discontinuation of drugs that cause low lymphocytes
- Administration of antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, or antiparasitic drugs to treat certain infections
- Gamma globulin injection to treat B-cell lymphocytopenia
- Combination antiretroviral therapy for people with HIV
- Stem cell transplant (stem cells) from blood and bone marrow to treat low lymphocytes due to genetic disorders
In addition, lymphocytopenia patients also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle and maintain cleanliness, including diligent hand washing, in order to improve the work of the immune system and protect themselves from infectious diseases.
If you still have questions regarding the causes of low lymphocyte levels and how to overcome them, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.