Patient's question:
My child always tells me that he has been feeling unwell recently. I took him to the hospital for a check-up, and it was found that his white blood cell count is low. The doctor said that this condition requires treatment. How should I handle a child with low white blood cell count?Doctor's answer:
Generally, the reasons for low white blood cell count include viral infections, typhoid fever, and drug-induced causes. If the decrease in neutrophils is caused by medication, the drug should be stopped immediately, and appropriate leukocyte-stimulating drugs should be used.Leukopenia refers to a group of symptoms caused by a persistent decline in the peripheral white blood cell count. Typical symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, limb weakness, reduced appetite, listlessness, low-grade fever, and are classified under Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as "deficiency fatigue."
TCM treatment for leukopenia involves methods such as invigorating qi and nourishing blood, tonifying the kidneys and replenishing essence, and strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach. Individuals with leukopenia should also avoid foods that deplete qi and harm the body, such as raw radishes, radish tops, burdock root, bitter melon, and kumquats.