What condition can elevated levels of white blood cells (WBCs) indicate?

Elevated levels of white blood cells (WBCs) are typically associated with the body's immune response, indicating that it is fighting off an infection. When an infection occurs, the body produces additional white blood cells to combat pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This increase is a natural defensive mechanism that helps to eliminate these harmful invaders.

While other conditions like anemia and dehydration can affect blood parameters, they do not directly lead to elevated WBC counts. Anemia primarily pertains to the deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, whereas dehydration can concentrate the blood components but does not inherently cause an increase in WBC production. Hypotension relates to low blood pressure and does not correlate with WBC elevation either. Therefore, elevated WBC levels specifically point to an ongoing infection or inflammatory process, making it a key indicator in clinical assessments for diagnosing infections.