Hello,
Thank you for your question.
Generally if one of my patients complained of the same symptoms you described in your question, I would be suspicious of a bacterial pharyngitis caused by a Group A Streptococcal (“Strep throat”).
In adults, there are specific criteria, called the Centor criteria:
- Fever: subjective or measured >100.5°F
- Absence of cough
- Tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph node in neck)
- Tonsillar exudates (white fluid)
It seems you have at least 3 of these (you didn’t mention that you didn’t have a cough). In general, I treat patients with antibiotics with 4 of these criteria.In patients with 2,3, criteria I perform a rapid strep test before I make the diagnosis.
To answer your question and hopefully relieve some of your anxiety, it is very common for patients to have a leukocytosis with a predominance of neutrophils like you describe in your question. It should not cause you excessive worry. I am glad that you responded so well with resolution of your symptoms within 48 to 72 hours.
Thank you,
Dr. S
Thank you doctor.
To conclude what about such a low count of lymphocytes. Is it common in those types of infections ?
That is my last concern.
Hope to read you soon.
Thanks in advance.