Monocytosis: what it is and the causes

The term monocytosis refers to the increase in the amount of monocytes circulating in the blood, that is, when more than 1000 monocytes are identified in the blood. The reference values of monocytes in the blood may vary depending on the laboratory, however the amount of monocytes between 100 and 1000 per blood is normally considered normal.

Monocytes are blood cells produced in the bone marrow and are part of the immune system, being responsible for the defenses of the body, so the amount of monocytes in the blood can increase as a result of an inflammatory and infectious process, being observed monocytosis mainly in tuberculosis, in the process of healing infections and endocarditis.Learn more about monocytes.

  • Monocytosis is identified by a complete blood formula and it is necessary to collect a small amount of blood that is sent to the laboratory for analysis.
  • The result is diffused in a specific part of the blood image called leinogram.
  • Where all the information on the cells responsible for the defense of the organism are located.

Most of the time, monocytosis is accompanied by other changes in blood formula and other tests that may have been prescribed by the doctor, in addition to the patient usually having symptoms related to the cause of the change.isolation and without symptoms, it is recommended to repeat the blood count to check whether the number of monocytes has been regularized or if a more thorough examination is necessary.

The main causes of monocytosis are

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, popularly known as Koch’s bacillus, a bacteria that remains in the respiratory system, causing lung damage and causing certain signs and symptoms, such as persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, night sweat, and production of green or yellow sputum.

In addition to monocytosis, your doctor may check for other changes in blood formula and biochemical tests, and if TB is suspected based on the signs and symptoms presented by the person, a sputum microbiological test or tuberculin test may be requested.also known as a PPD test, which is designed to check for bacteria in the body.Understand what the PPD exam is and how it develops.

What to do: In the presence of any signs or symptoms of tuberculosis it is important to see the family doctor, pneumologist or infectious disease for testing, diagnosis and establishment of treatment, which is done with antibiotics. It is important that treatment is done exactly as recommended by your doctor, even if your symptoms improve. If treatment is discontinued, bacteria may proliferate again and develop resistance, making treatment difficult and can cause complications for the person.

Bacterial endocarditis is a situation in which the inner structures of the heart are compromised by bacteria, which reach this organ through the bloodstream, resulting in signs and symptoms such as high fever, chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing, for example.

This type of endocarditis is more common in people who use intravenous medications because skin bacteria can enter the bloodstream directly when the drug is applied.

In addition to changes in your blood formula, your doctor may also check for changes in other laboratory, microbiological, and cardiac tests, such as cardiac ultrasound and ultrasound.Learn about other tests that evaluate your heart.

What to do: In these cases it is important to be aware of the appearance of signs indicative of endocarditis and to go to the hospital as soon as they appear, since the bacteria responsible for the disease can spread quickly and reach other people. organs than the heart, further complicating the patient’s clinical picture. patient.

It is common for the number of monocytes to increase during the recovery period because it indicates that the body reacts against the infectious agent and increases the line of defense, allowing faster and more efficient removal of the microorganism.

In addition to the number of monocytes, it is also possible to observe an increase in the number of lymphocytes and neutrophils.

What to do: If the person has been diagnosed with an infection, the increase in the number of monocytes usually represents only the recovery of the patient and the immune system, in these cases no other attitude is necessary and the doctor can only ask for another formula of blood after a few weeks to see if the monocyte count has normalized.

Rheumatoid arthritis is also a disease in which there may be monocytosis, as it is an autoimmune disease, that is, immune system cells attack other cells in the body, so there is always the production of immune cells, including monocytes.

This disease is characterized by damage to the joints, which are painful, swollen and rigid, having difficulty moving them for at least 1 hour after waking.

What to do: Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is primarily done with physical therapy to rehabilitate the affected joint, prevent complications and relieve pain, and rheumatologists may recommend medication and proper nutrition, which should be done under the direction of a nutritionist Understand how rheumatoid arthritis is treated.

Monocytosis may also be present in blood disorders, such as anemia, lymphoma, and leukemia, because monocytosis may be linked to mild and severe situations, it is important for your doctor to evaluate the result at the same time as testing the other blood formula parameters, in addition to reading the blade.

What to do: Monocytosis related to blood problems usually leads to the onset of symptoms depending on the cause, so it is recommended to inform the family doctor or hematologist of any signs or symptoms that present, since this is taken into account when analyzing the blood formula Depending on the evaluation of the doctor, it is possible to make the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment.

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