High White Cell Count and Anemia

[Kimberly37]

I have a relative in the hospital.  Two years ago he had a high white cell count and fevers.  A bone biopsy was done and nothing was found.  He got better and nothing more was done.  In February the symptoms came back.  He has night sweats, fevers, a high white cell count and anemia.  The anemia was bad enough to warrant a blood transfusion.  He did not feel any better after the transfusion.  He had a Ct Scan done and it showed what was thought to be a tumor on his right hip.  He went into the hospital to have a biopsy done of the tumor and when it was performed they found a hematoma  around  the muscle.  They put a drain in and admitted him.  They started him on IV antibiotics because he developed a fever while in the hospital and his white cell count was high.  His white cell count came down but the fevers never really went away.  Today they said his white cell count is again high,  his anemia is back and they don't know why.  He has had a surgeon, hematologist, and infectious disease team look at his symptoms.  Has anyone heard of anything like this?

[jemma116]

I just hope and pray the root of the problem is found so that your relative can be treated with the right medication so that he can recover quickly.

Best wishes.

[Kimberly37]

I am not sure about the stool sample but that is an excellent idea.  I will tell him to inquire with the doctor's tomorrow about the stool sample and to make sure they have ruled out malaria.  Thank you for your help.

[jemma116]

Oh, I am sorry to hear that.  
It's a shame I cannot remember what the parasite was on that programme. Unfortuntely, I have a poor memory.

Has he had a stool sample analysed?  I suppose he has.

Did they check, out of curiosity, for malaria?

I do hope that they find what is causing his loss of blood, because until they find the root cause, he will keep having these problems.

Wishing you all the best and hope that the root of the problem is found soon to help your relative to recover.

[Kimberly37]

He has been to foreign countries but not since 1994.  The doctor today did say that it could be something he picked up when he was overseas but they don't recognize it.  The infectious disease people have handed him back to his primary care physician.

[jemma116]

There was something similar on the programme called Monsters Inside Me.  
The person on the programme in Monsters Inside Me, had exactly the same problem as your friend and it was found that he had some kind of .parasite.  Initially the medics thought he had a tumour.

It would be worth mentioning to the medical profession if your friend had been to any foreign country, or swam in any lakes or drank or ate anything in a different country that could have been contaminated with parasitic cysts.

It is good that he has an Infections Disease Team to look at his condition, and I hope they find the cause of the problem soon so that your friend can be treated accordingly.

The high white blood count usually means that the person is fighting a foreign body (viral, bacterial or parasitic).

Best wishes.