RED BLOOD CELL (RBC) COUNT
● Red blood cell (RBC) count measures the number of red
blood cells.
● Red blood cell (RBC) count is almost always part of a
complete blood count.
● RBC Count help diagnose different kinds of anemia (low
number of RBCs) and other conditions affecting red blood cells.
● RBCs or erythrocytes are biconcave-shaped cells .
● RBCs carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carry
carbon dioxide from the peripheral tissues to the lung.
● They have a lifespan of 120 days and are removed from the
blood by the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, which are a part of the
reticuloendothelial system.
Normal Range of RBC Count
● Male Adult: 4.5
- 6.2 million cells/cumm
● Female Adult: 4.5 – 5 million cells/cumm
● Child, 1 – 18 years:
4.0 – 5.5 million cells/cumm
● Infant, 6 – 12
months: 3.5 – 5.2 million cells/cumm
● Infant, 2 – 6
months: 3.5 – 5.5 million cells/cumm
● Infant, 2 – 8 weeks:
4.0 – 6.0 million cells/cumm
● Newborn: 4.8 – 7.1
million cells/cumm
Symptoms of an abnormal count
Symptoms of a low red blood cell count include:
● Weakness
● Fatigue
● Pale skin
● Rapid heartbeat
Symptoms of a high red blood cell count include:
● Fatigue
● Shortness of
breath
● Joint pain
● Headache
● Dizziness
● Vision problems
● Tenderness in
your palms or soles of your feet
● Itching skin,
particularly after a shower or bath
● Sleep
disturbance
Indications of RBC Count
To determine anemia, polycythemia, dehydration or response
to treatment.
Interpretation of RBC Count
RBCs increase either due to relative decrease in plasma as
in hemoconcentration or dehydration or as a result of an absolute increase in
hematopoietin, as in renal cell carcinoma.
A low red blood cell count can be a sign of:
● Anemia
● Vitamin B-12 or
folate deficiency
● Stomach ulcers
● Bleeding
● Lupus
● Hodgkin
lymphoma
● Leukemia
● Multiple
myeloma
● Malnutrition
● Kidney failure
● It may also be
a sign of pregnancy.
A high red blood cell count can be a sign of:
● Dehydration
● Heart disease
● Polycythemia
vera, a bone marrow disease that causes too many red blood cells to be made
● Scarring of the
lungs, often due to cigarette smoking
● Lung disease
● Kidney diseases
● Blood disorders
● Kidney cancer
Interfering Factors
Your RBC count could be affected by:
● Dehydration
● Overhydration
● Stress
● Altitude
● Pregnancy
● Some medicines
● Your position
when the blood is drawn
Treatment for a low RBC count
All types of anemia require treatment. Your treatment will
depend on what’s causing your anemia.
Iron deficiency:
You can take iron supplements.
Vitamin deficiency:
You can take vitamin supplements.
Bone marrow failure:
Your doctor may prescribe certain medications or a bone marrow transplant.
Chronic conditions:
focus on treating the underlying condition. Sometimes, prescribe an EPO-stimulating
agent.
Blood loss: A
blood transfusion can bring in more RBCs to your body.
Treatment for a high RBC count
Erythrocytosis:
you may need a regular phlebotomy. This removes a small amount of blood from
your body in order to lower your RBC count.
Phlebotomies:
don’t work, your doctor may prescribe hydroxyurea (Hydrea or Droxia) to reduce
your RBC count.
You may also need aspirin to help with potential blood
clots.
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