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White blood cells (leukocytes) are an important part of the body’s defense against infectious organisms and foreign substances (the immune system). The number of white blood cells (white cell count) is normally less than 11,000 cells per microliter of blood (11 × 10⁹ per liter).

The most common cause of an increase in the white blood cell count is

• The normal response of the body to an infection

Other causes include

• Certain medications, such as corticosteroids

• Cancers of the bone marrow (such as leukemia)

• Release of immature or abnormal white blood cells from the bone marrow into the blood

There are many types of white blood cell (see Overview of White Blood Cell Disorders), and each type may be increased. However, most commonly, people have an

• Increase in neutrophils

• Increase in lymphocytes