What is the Difference Between Leukocytosis and Lymphocytosis

The key difference between leukocytosis and lymphocytosis is that leukocytosis is characterized by a high number of white blood cells, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils or eosinophils, while a high number of lymphocytes characterizes lymphocytosis.

The blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. White blood cells account for only about 1% of your blood. However, they protect people against illness and disease. The different white blood cells (leukocytes) include lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils. Leukocytosis and lymphocytosis are two different conditions that occur due to a high number of white blood cells in the blood.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Leukocytosis 
3. What is Lymphocytosis
4. Similarities – Leukocytosis and Lymphocytosis
5. Leukocytosis vs. Lymphocytosis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Leukocytosis vs. Lymphocytosis

What is Leukocytosis?

Leukocytosis generally refers to a high white blood cell count. It can be due to a high number of white blood cells such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, or eosinophils. The common signs and symptoms of this condition may include fever, fatigue, pain, difficulty in breathing, wheezing, night sweats, unexpected weight loss, rashes, easy bruising, and decreased blood flow. Leukocytosis can be caused by infection or inflammation, excessive physical or emotional stress, burns, immune system disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, dental cavities, certain medicines such as lithium, corticosteroids, and beta-agonists, allergy, splenectomy (removal of the spleen), smoking, obesity, leukemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow disorders like polycythemia vera or myelofibrosis.

Leukocytosis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and complete blood count (CBC). Furthermore, treatment options for leukocytosis may include antibiotics for infections, antihistamines for allergies, medications to reduce anxiety, anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), inhalers for asthma, IV fluids to improve blood flow, leukapheresis and management of cancer through chemotherapy, and radiation therapy or stem cell transplants.

What is Lymphocytosis?

Lymphocytosis is a condition characterized by an elevated count of a specific type of white blood cells known as lymphocytes. It is due to infection, other inflammatory conditions (cancer), smoking, allergic reaction to medicine, stress caused by a medical emergency, some autoimmune diseases, and asplenia (removal of the spleen). Lymphocytosis usually does not cause any symptoms. But sometimes, lymph nodes in the neck may be swollen.

Lymphocytosis can be diagnosed through physical examinations, blood tests (complete blood count), flow cytometry tests, and bone marrow biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for lymphocytosis may include managing the underlying condition, chemotherapy for cancer, electrolyte management, early administration of intravenous fluids, allopurinol, and rasburicase to stabilize the patient.

What are the Similarities Between Leukocytosis and Lymphocytosis?

• Leukocytosis and lymphocytosis are two different conditions due to high numbers of white blood cells in the blood.
• Both conditions can be due to infections.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
• They can be treated by managing underlying conditions.

What is the Difference Between Leukocytosis and Lymphocytosis?

Leukocytosis is a condition due to a high number of white blood cells such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, or eosinophils, while lymphocytosis is a condition due to only a high number of lymphocytes. Thus, this is the key difference between leukocytosis and lymphocytosis. Furthermore, leukocytosis can be caused by infection or inflammation, excessive physical or emotional stress, burns, immune system disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, dental cavities, certain medicines such as lithium, corticosteroids and beta-agonists, allergy, splenectomy, smoking, obesity, leukemia, lymphoma, bone marrow disorders like polycythemia vera or myelofibrosis. On the other hand, lymphocytosis can be caused by infection, other inflammatory conditions (cancer), smoking, allergic reaction to medicine, stress caused by a medical emergency, some autoimmune diseases, and asplenia.

The infographic below presents the differences between leukocytosis and lymphocytosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Leukocytosis vs. Lymphocytosis

White blood cells are immunity cells that protect the body from illnesses and diseases. Normally, white blood cells flow through the bloodstream to fight against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders that threaten health. Leukocytosis and lymphocytosis are two different conditions that are due to a high number of white blood cells in the blood. Leukocytosis is due to a high number of lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils in the blood, while lymphocytosis is due to only a high number of lymphocytes in the blood. So, this summarizes the difference between leukocytosis and lymphocytosis.

Reference:

1. Ajmera, Rachael. “What Is Leukocytosis? Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. “Lymphocytosis: Definition, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Hematopoietic growth factors” By User: Mikael Häggström and A. Rad – File: Hematopoiesis (human) diagram.png, by A. Rad. (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Lymphocytosis” By Bobjgalindo – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia