Which blood cells increase during an infection?

Appeared in: JIPMER Pondicherry NO - 2022

Explanation

White Blood Cells (WBCs), or leukocytes, are the primary cells of the body's immune system.
In response to an infection, the bone marrow increases the production and release of WBCs to fight off invading pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
This increase in the number of circulating WBCs is a hallmark of infection and is medically termed leukocytosis.
Different types of WBCs respond to different infections; for instance, neutrophils typically increase during bacterial infections, while lymphocytes increase during viral infections.

Option A: Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are primarily responsible for oxygen transport, not immunity. Their levels do not increase during an infection.
Option C: Platelets are essential for blood clotting (hemostasis). While they can increase during inflammation, this is a secondary reaction, and their primary role is not to fight infection directly.
Option D: This option is incorrect because not all blood cell types increase in response to infection. The primary response involves only the White Blood Cells.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Cellular response to infection and functions of blood components helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
For a nurse, interpreting a Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a fundamental skill. An elevated WBC count (leukocytosis) is a key laboratory finding that signals the presence of an infection or inflammation, prompting further investigation and monitoring.
Understanding this concept helps in prioritizing care for patients with signs of infection, such as fever, chills, and malaise, and in evaluating the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.
What if? If a patient's WBC count was critically low (leukopenia), the nursing priority would shift dramatically. Instead of the body fighting infection, the nurse's role would be to protect the patient from acquiring an infection (neutropenic precautions), as their immune system is compromised.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'blood cells' and 'infection'.
The question asks which cells increase during an infection, which points to the body's immune response.
Recall the primary function of each blood cell type listed in the options.
RBCs are for oxygen transport.
WBCs are the 'soldiers' of the immune system.
Platelets are for blood clotting.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Cellular response to infection and functions of blood components.
Stem keywords: blood cells, infection
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 111-113

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1001-1003

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