The norm of ESR in the blood of a child. Causes of low and high ESR

The ESR norm in children indicates what erythrocyte sedimentation rate is optimal. This is a general indicator that is determined by a blood test. It shows the rate at which cells stick together. To obtain the results, medical workers take venous or capillary blood.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

This indicator is very important. According to it, it is impossible to establish what disease the baby develops. But it is possible to detect pathological changes at the initial stage of development, when the symptoms have not yet appeared. The pediatrician will tell you what this means and what numbers you should pay attention to.

There is no primary therapy as such to cure abnormal ESR in children. The indicator will recover on its own when the patient recovers. If, for example, a child has an ESR of 20, this means that there are serious deviations in his body. The disease must be identified and treated.

Permissible parameters of ESR in the blood

Each person has different settings. They depend on whether it is a newborn, a one-year-old baby or an adult. For all, the ESR standards are set within certain limits. In addition, ESR is determined by the gender of the patient.

If the ESR is within the normal range, this does not mean that the child is healthy. In many situations, this indicator does not rise above 20 mm / h, even if the patient has been diagnosed with a malignant tumor. But significantly increased numbers indicate that an infectious pathological process or inflammation develops in the patient's body with a high degree of probability.

The level of ESR in adults and children is different. Doctors rely on this data to prescribe an additional examination to the patient. In addition, in children of different ages, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is different.

ESR norms in children:

1. Newborns - from 2 to 4 mm / h.
2. An infant up to 1 year old - from 3 to 10 mm / h.
3. Children from 1 to 5 years old - from 5 to 11 mm / h.
4. Child aged 6 to 14 years (girls) - from 5 to 13 mm / h. From 6 to 14 years (boys) - from 4 to 12 mm / h.
5. From 14 and older (girls) - from 2 to 15 mm / h. Boys over 14 years old - from 1 to 10 mm / h.

Changes occur with age, as well as depending on the individual characteristics of each child. Violations can be minor, i.e., the indicator almost corresponds to how much ESR should be in the child's body.

If all other tests are in order, then there is no cause for concern. Most likely, the child has temporary deviations or individual manifestations in the body. But if the doctor directs for additional research, you should take tests and pass tests. So you can make sure that there are no pathological processes.

The ESR value rises to 25 units if serious disorders develop in the human body without visible symptoms. Or when the rate is overestimated by at least 10 mm / h.

The decision on further actions is taken only by the doctor..

If the ESR level reaches 30 mm / h, it means that a disease develops in the child's body in a chronic stage or pathological processes are at an advanced stage.

The doctor prescribes mandatory treatment after making an accurate diagnosis, it can take a couple of months.

If the ESR is 40, then the child has global health problems. It is necessary to find the source of the development of the disease, begin immediate treatment.

Why does ESR increase in children?

As a result of a different ratio of blood cells, an inflammatory process develops, and the ESR increases. This is because the concentration of those proteins that are formed after tissue destruction or against the background of inflammation in the body increases in the blood.

An increased ESR in the child's blood indicates the presence of pathological processes, but it is impossible to determine exactly where they occur. Violations indicate various diseases, but this is not the main method of diagnosis. An increase in standard norms indicates that an infectious inflammatory process occurs in the child's body.

In addition, such a test can show high numbers, even when a person is completely healthy. Therefore, experts recommend conducting additional studies to determine the development of the disease at an early stage.

There are certain pathologies that cause an increase in ESR in children:

1. bacterial infections. This is tuberculosis or pneumonia, meningitis.
2. Diseases of viral origin. Angina, scarlet fever or herpes.
3. Acute pathological processes in the intestine. Cholera, typhoid or salmonella.
4. Immunopathological diseases. Rheumatism or nephrotic syndrome, vasculitis.
5. Pathological processes associated with the kidneys. Colic or pyelonephritis.
6. Anemia, burn, trauma or complications after surgery.

The main indicator that doctors pay attention to is the magnitude of the violation. To understand that serious violations occur in the child's body, the results of the tests will help.

The ESR level rises by more than 10 units. As a rule, after complete recovery, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation rate in children remains at a high level even after a couple of months. Therefore, tests should be taken periodically.

Accurately and quickly find out what ESR the patient has, a blood test will help. This parameter can determine the stage of development of the disease, as well as its pronounced indicators. If it is high, then the ESR will be increased.

Causes of low ESR

As a rule, a reduced level of ESR does not cause much concern for doctors. But that doesn't mean all is well. A lower result indicates that the baby has an unbalanced diet, his body lacks protein. In addition, ESR may be low as a result of dehydration, such as after severe diarrhea or vomiting.

There are situations when the rate of ESR in the blood of a child decreases against the background of hereditary diseases. And also because of the pathological processes that affect the circulatory system. But other parameters obtained after a detailed blood test will also tell about this.

For diagnosis, ESR parameters in children and adults are of great importance. But this is just a helper method. He tells the specialist in which direction to look for the disease, as well as whether he prescribed the right treatment for his patient.

There are certain factors, as a result of which the ESR in a child falls lower than established by the norms:

• diarrhea that lasts for a long time;
• severe vomiting;
• loss of a large amount of body fluid;
• viral hepatitis;
• serious heart disease;
• chronic disorders affecting the circulatory system.

In addition, low ESR rates are observed in a child in the first 2 weeks of his life after birth. If the baby feels good, and the indicators are underestimated, you should not leave the situation without action. It is better to go to the hospital and do more research.

False ESR results

It is not always possible to obtain accurate analysis data. In medicine, there is such a thing as a false positive result. The data of such a test cannot be considered reliable. They cannot indicate the development of pathology in the patient's body.

There are certain reasons why ESR results are considered false positive:

• anemia, not accompanied by morphological changes;
• increased concentration of all proteins in plasma, with the exception of fibrinogen;
• insufficient work of the kidneys;
• hypercholesterolemia;
• the onset of pregnancy;
• overweight;
• patient's age;
• hepatitis B vaccine;
• vitamin A intake.

The cause may also be technical violations made during the diagnosis. This is the wrong exposure of the material, temperature, insufficient amount of anticoagulants for testing.

Methods for restoring ESR in children

The doctor cannot make an accurate diagnosis, considering only the results of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. If there are deviations from the standard norm, then he prescribes additional research methods:

After all additional examinations, only the doctor makes decisions, he knows how much ESR is normal in a child. In case of deviations, he directs the patient to other tests. Taking into account all the indicators, as well as the disease that will be detected, the children are prescribed appropriate medications.

As a rule, to restore ESR, the pediatrician prescribes drugs to his patients to stop the inflammatory process. These are antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and antihistamines.

There are alternative medicine methods that help normalize the level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. in. For example, herbal decoctions with anti-inflammatory effect. These include chamomile and linden.

You can drink tea with raspberries, add honey and lemon. In addition, the doctor recommends eating foods with a lot of fiber, natural protein foods.

Red beets have a positive effect on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. But before using traditional medicine to treat a child's body, you should consult a doctor.

You can not make decisions on your own and give the child some means.

Effective treatment helps not only to recover a small patient, but also to normalize the level of ESR. This is not so easy to achieve, it must take time (at least one month) from the moment the child gets sick.

How the analysis is done

As a rule, the material is taken in the hospital in the morning, from a finger, vein, or, if it is a newborn, then from the heel. For a child, the tests are not dangerous, they only need a few drops to carry out. The pad is lubricated with a cotton swab with alcohol. The skin is pierced, the first blood is wiped off to prevent impurities from entering the material. The collection is carried out in a special vessel.

Important! The blood should flow out on its own. You can not press, otherwise it will mix with the lymph. Then the results will not be accurate enough.

In order for the blood to come out on its own, the child's hand should be heated, for example, with warm water or near a radiator. If the material is taken from a vein, then a tourniquet is tied on the baby's forearm. They ask him to work with his fist. This is necessary so that the doctor can accurately enter the vein with a needle.

Each procedure is painful in its own way. But children can also be naughty because they are afraid of people in white coats or the sight of blood. They are frightened out of ignorance, not understanding what they will do with them. Many clinics allow parents to be present during material collection.

So the baby is much calmer. In addition, the child must be explained that the analysis is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.

Many children do not tolerate the procedure very well. After it there is nausea, dizziness. In this case, the child can be given something sweet, such as juice, tea or chocolate. An unpleasant moment can be left in the past if you distract the child with a pleasant event.

Analysis for ESR is carried out at any age. A standard procedure that is prescribed to healthy or sick people. For example, it is used if the body temperature rises, other complaints appear, or if a child has bronchitis. The doctor always prescribes a general blood test, including ESR.

A blood test for children is prescribed and carried out for medical reasons in case of illness, as well as for prevention purposes. In the list of indicators, not the last place belongs to the study of ESR. The norm of ESR in the blood in children is an indisputable proof of a healthy body, the absence of foci of diseases. The article discusses several issues: what values ​​are considered the norm, what methods are used to determine the values, on what factors they depend, what needs to be done in case of deviation from the normal values.

How is determined

When a doctor prescribes a general blood test to a child, among the results obtained, information about the content of ESR in the bloodstream is of interest to him in the first place. Some time ago, instead of the designation SOE, another name was adopted - ROE. In the data sheet of the analyzes, the “ROE norm” was prescribed, or “the content of the ROE in the blood is ...”. Currently, the designation has been changed, SOE is used everywhere.

The abbreviation literally means "erythrocyte sedimentation rate", the figure of the indicator - the speed of the ongoing process. The study can be carried out either according to the Panchenkov method or the Westergren method (both named after prominent scientists - Russian and Swedish). The settling rate in the mentioned methods is the most reliable data, and the second method is considered the most reliable. How is the analysis carried out and what is the difference between the mentioned methods?

The Panchenkov method is used more often in public clinics; during the study, the collected material is placed in a vertical tube (Panchenkov's capillary).

To analyze the ESR, a small amount of blood is taken from the child's ring finger.

Over time, a reaction begins in the tube. The erythrocyte is a heavier component compared to the other components, its settling to the bottom of the tube occurs gradually, leaving the rest of the space in the capillary lighter. After an hour, the height of the light column is measured, these figures (the unit of measurement is mm / hour) are the ESR.

The Westergren method is recognized as more indicative in medicine; it is more often practiced in private clinics. An analysis for the content of ESR in the blood of a child is carried out on venous blood, in a vertical test tube. Before the study, an anticoagulant (a special substance that prevents blood clotting) is injected into the collected portion, which helps to clearly observe the pattern of sedimentation.

What do the numbers mean

To understand the values ​​indicated in the results of a laboratory analysis, you need to know what indicators are defined as normal for a child at various periods of life. ESR indicators in children initially depend on age, then on the sex of the child.

The data are reflected in the table, which describes in detail the norms of indicators for each age period:

• In a newborn baby, the norms of indicators are in the range from 2 to 4 mm / hour;
• The next control indicator is the age of 6 months, the control figures of the norm are 5-8 mm / hour;
• During the first year of a baby's life, the numbers change, a one-year-old baby has indicators from 3 to 9-10 mm / hour;
• At an older age, for example, upon reaching 10 years, the control figures of the norm acquire an even greater spread, ranging from 4-5 to 10-12 mm / hour.
• In adolescence (12-15 years), the indicators take into account the difference between boys and girls, their different rates of body maturation.

It is important to remember that the organisms of children are very individual, in this regard, in some cases, the analysis figures may exceed the normal, stable age indicator.

Another feature is that only an excess of normal indicators by more than 10 digits can serve as a reason for excitement. If the deviation from the norm is large enough, this is a cause for concern and prompt medical attention.

The degree of activity of the inflammatory process and the ESR index are closely related - the stronger the inflammatory process, the greater the numbers that exceed the standards. In the presence of high ESR for a long period, an additional CPR analysis for reactive protein is prescribed.

Almost always, the situation with abnormal indicators improves after the child recovers. For treatment, antiviral or antihistamine drugs are prescribed, in especially difficult cases, a course of antibiotics is required.

Why might there be an increase?

Quite often, when conducting a study on ESR in children, some fluctuations in the control data are revealed either upward or downward. According to the results of a blood test, deciphering the result does not always give an accurate idea of ​​a possible illness, since in children the ESR norm often undergoes changes not only due to the disease, but also due to physiological characteristics, as well as reasons specific to a certain age.

An age-related feature of some increase in values ​​is considered, for example, the period of teething (ESR can increase significantly), or adolescence, when the state of the body is very unstable due to rapid growth.

Other sources of an increase are diseases that are viral in nature, or an infection that accompanies certain diseases provokes a surge in results, this happens with bronchitis, tonsillitis, acute respiratory viral infections, and pneumonia. A feature of the ESR values ​​in case of respiratory disease is a significant (more than 20-25 units) excess, especially often in bronchitis.

The reason lies in the increasing addition of the protein of the acute phase of the inflammatory process in the bloodstream.
A number of diseases are accompanied by the breakdown of the tissue cover due to the ingress of decay products into the blood, these processes are typical for:

• oncological diseases;
• tuberculosis;
• Inflammations with a septic basis;
• Heart attack.

With the manifestation of autoimmune processes due to a change in the protein part of the plasma, the ESR in the blood in children increases with:

• Scleroderma;
• Lupus erythematosus, which is systemic in nature;
• Rheumatoid arthritis.

An increase in the level of ESR in the blood of a child also occurs in diseases of the endocrine system, due to a decrease in the amount of albumin in the blood plasma, as well as in the diagnosis of blood diseases.

In addition to the causes caused by diseases, various household factors can lead to an excess of the ESR for children: stress, following a strict diet for a long time, taking vitamins, and also an excess of the child's own weight.

Obesity can show the so-called false positive result, which is also characteristic of the anemic condition of the child, the presence of kidney failure, high cholesterol in the body. The norm in children may increase after a recent vaccination and disturbances in the nutrition system.

If a decrease is found

In the case when, as a result of the analysis of ESR in children, the norm of age indicators is lowered, this situation may indicate a variety of reasons:

• Dehydration of the body;
• Poisoning in severe form;
• Heart disease;
• Pathologies of blood cells (spherocytosis / aniocytosis);
• High blood flow viscosity;
• Acidosis;
• Intestinal infection in acute manifestation.

A reduced result is most often associated with the manifestation of pathology in the properties of blood flow cells: the structure, qualitative composition changes, the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin is disturbed. Other reasons for the decrease include a low blood clotting threshold, as well as a downward bias in the level of liquefaction. Quite popular causes are a violation of the general circulatory system, the result of taking special medications. For babies under 1 year old, an underestimation is associated with a lack of fluid intake into the body.

A decrease in normal data is quite rare, but such a pathology is not considered an accidental, quickly normalizing condition. In medical practice, a decrease always reveals serious ailments of the body.

Regardless of the age of the child - he was one year old, six years old, or sixteen - parents need to understand that his health is constantly exposed to various adverse effects. An analysis of the level of ESR in the blood of a child helps to detect the source of the pathology and choose the right method of treatment.

It is necessary to remember the basic rule of preserving the health of the child - the sooner the disease is detected and correctly diagnosed, the more likely it is to achieve a full and speedy recovery.

In contact with

A blood test is carried out for children for preventive purposes and if a certain disease is suspected. One of the indicators by which it is determined whether any pathological conditions are present in the body is. What does this indicator mean in the analysis results. What are the norms of ESR in children? What are the main reasons for the increase and decrease in the indicator?

Children are usually prescribed this study during preventive examinations. In addition, the results of the analysis help to establish a diagnosis if an inflammatory process occurs in the body. During inflammation, the accumulation of substances begins that accelerate gluing, and ESR is an indicator of the rate of sedimentation of red blood cells. It is determined during research.

The sedimentation rate reacts to any disturbances in the body. These changes are observed on the result of the analysis even during the period when the disease is just emerging, and there are no accompanying symptoms. Therefore, if the necessary measures are taken, serious complications can be avoided.

To determine the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation, the blood is affected with an anticoagulant.

As a result, according to the law of gravity, the red bodies fall down - to the bottom of the vessel. To determine the ESR, look at the height of the upper layer, which was formed within sixty minutes. The height is measured in this case in millimeters.

You can determine this property of blood in the following ways:

1. Westergren's method. It is more reliable. For it, blood from a vein is used, and it is carried out in a vertical test tube. This method is most often used in private clinics.
2. Panchenkov's method. Following the Panchenkov method, blood is placed on a vertically placed tube - Panchenkov's capillary. In public medical institutions, this diagnostic method is often used.

The rate of settling can vary depending on a variety of reasons. At an elevated level, a second study is prescribed in a few days.

It is important to know that ESR is not enough to determine the diagnosis. The specialist takes into account all the analysis indicators - the level,. If necessary, additional diagnostic methods are prescribed.

Preparing for the study and performing the procedure

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is sensitive to many factors. Therefore, it is necessary to know the features of preparation for analysis.

Before the study, it is important to observe the following rules:

• Before donating blood, it is not recommended to eat food. The procedure is best done on an empty stomach. Especially affects fried and fatty foods. Its reception should be limited a couple of days before the study.
• The result may be affected by recent physiotherapy procedures or x-rays.
• It is desirable that the baby was in a good mood. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent children's crying and stressful situations, since these conditions affect the rate of blood cell sedimentation.
• Before carrying out the analysis, you should rest for fifteen minutes after walking to the laboratory.
• Before the procedure, physical activity should be excluded.
• Parents should also inform the specialist if the child has taken any medications the day before, as some of them may also affect the ESR result.

For children, blood for analysis is taken from the ring finger. It is pierced with a scarifier. The amount of blood required for analysis is collected in a test tube.

Under the force of gravity, red blood cells begin to bind to each other. Blood outside the body is divided into a viscous and liquid part. To determine the result, one milliliter of liquid in the test tube is left for one hour. After the passage of this time, the length of the formed colorless part is measured in millimeters. The laboratory assistant enters the result on the form.

Decoding: ESR standards in children

Normal indicators of ESR in the blood of a child vary depending on age

The norms of ESR differ in children depending on the measure of their growing up. A low rate of sedimentation in infants as a result of the peculiarities of protein metabolism in the body.

Normal results of cell sedimentation rate in children are as follows:

• From twelve years - from 3 to 15 mm
• From eight years - from 4 to 12 mm
• Up to five years - from 5 to 11 mm
• Up to a year - from 3 to 10 mm
• Up to six months - from 4 to 6 mm
• Up to two months - from 2 to 6 mm
• Newborn - 2 to 2.8 mm

It is important to note that this is the rate of erythrocyte cell sedimentation per hour.

In boys, the ESR is usually lower than in girls. For boys in adolescence, the norm is from 1 to 10 mm per hour, while for girls at this age, the norm is from 2 to 15 mm. Also, the level depends on the time of the day - from lunch to evening, ESR often rises.

There are also certain periods of increase in the indicator: 28 to 31 days from the date of birth of the baby and two years of age (at this stage, the speed can increase up to 17 mm.

ESR increase

A high rate of red cell sedimentation indicates that inflammatory processes begin in the body. When there is an increase in ESR at the same time as a high WBC count, this may indicate acute inflammation.

In infants, an increase in ESR can provoke the following reasons:

• Vitamin deficiency.
• Teething.
• Use of drugs containing ibuprofen or paracetamol.
• Helminthiasis.
• Weakened immunity.

If a woman who is breastfeeding has included fatty foods in her diet, this factor also contributes to an increase in the indicator. In addition, the syndrome of increased ESR, which is an individual feature of the body, can be observed in children.

Among the possible diseases that affect the acceleration of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the following can be distinguished:

• Tonsillitis
• SARS
• Sinusitis
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Flu
• Cystitis
• Tuberculosis
• Sepsis
• Pyelonephritis
• Oncological diseases (lymphoma, leukemia)
• Meningococcal infection
• Herpes
• Otitis

Other infections include measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, rubella, typhoid, parotitis, and poliomyelitis. An increased value in frequent cases indicates these infectious diseases.

According to statistics, most often a high rate indicates the presence of an infectious disease, oncological processes, less often it provokes rheumatic diseases and kidney failure (glomerulonephritis, colic, nephrotic syndrome).

Useful video - Blood test in children:

ESR increases with inflammation in tissues and organs, purulent processes, and metabolic disorders. They affect the rate of diseases of the endocrine system (, hypothyroidism,), autoimmune diseases, pathologies, diseases of the bile ducts. Sometimes this process can provoke diseases of the blood and heart. Injuries and burns, intoxication are also considered the reasons for the high rate. There is an increase in the rate of erythrocytes in the postoperative period.

An excessive increase in ESR may be a sign of Waldenström's syndrome, multiple myeloma and vasculitis. A high value can provoke immature red cells, hyperproteinemia.

It is important to note that in the period after the illness, an increase in ESR can be observed for some more time - sometimes up to three months. To determine whether any disease is causing a high score, you need to pay attention to other symptoms. Changes in external behavior may indicate diseases: loss of appetite, drowsiness, inactivity, capriciousness. If an increase in the index provoked an acute inflammatory process, then hyperthermia can be observed.

Reduced ESR

The norm of ESR in children (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is an indicator of a general blood test, reflecting the state of health. In the presence of an inflammatory process in the body, the ESR increases.

What does SOE mean

One of the important indicators of the general blood test is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) within one hour. Previously, it was called ROE (erythrocyte sedimentation reaction). In foreign literature, it is designated as Complete Blood Count (CBC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Westergren ESR.

Methods of determination

The main methods of determination are: the method of Westergren (Westergren) and Panchenkov. The interpretation of the results of analyzes obtained using any of these methods is correct. The Westergren method is approved by the International Committee for the Standardization of Blood Research.

Before determining this indicator, an anticoagulant (sodium citrate), a substance that prevents blood clotting, is added to the venous blood. Blood remains liquid, representing blood plasma in which blood cells float: erythrocytes, and.

The blood is left for an hour, and after this time the height of the transparent layer is measured, i.e. plasma, which is located above the settled blood cells. This value in mm / h is the ESR. Currently, in many medical institutions, automatic devices are used to determine the indicator.

How the analysis is done

ESR blood test, and its norm in children depends on the age and state of their health. It reflects the balance between factors that increase erythrocyte sedimentation (eg, fibrinogen) and negatively charged erythrocytes. With an increase in plasma fibrinogen, immunoglobulins and other proteins, erythrocytes aggregate with the formation of complexes, the sedimentation of which is accelerated under the influence of gravity.

A change in the ESR value can be observed already before the onset of symptoms of the disease, or in the absence of any disease, since it is very sensitive to many changes in the body.

The analysis is not carried out after physiotherapeutic procedures, x-rays, prolonged crying of the child and a hearty breakfast. It is carried out in the morning on an empty stomach, while the child should be calm.

ESR in the blood in children

Table - Normal ESR in children

In newborns, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is low, because their metabolism is still lower. ESR in the blood in children under one year old increases, as it depends on the activation of metabolic processes in the child's body. The peak of the indicator is observed from 27 to 32 days after birth, then its decrease is observed.

In adolescents, this analysis may depend not only on age, but also on gender. For example, in boys of 14 years old, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be 2-11 mm / hour, and in girls of the same age - 2-14 mm / hour. However, these differences are not significant.

In children, an increased ESR value may be the result of:

• hypovitaminosis;
• stress (prolonged crying);
• taking medication (paracetamol);
• elevated ESR syndrome.

With the syndrome of elevated ESR, it is necessary to do a blood test several times during the year to determine this indicator. If the child has no symptoms of the disease, he feels well, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate remains elevated, then the pediatrician may recommend, in addition, to do an analysis for C-reactive protein.

Increased value

High ESR in a child can be provoked by the following reasons.

• Hyperproteinemia. So called the increased content of total protein in the blood. In the initial period of the disease, which is often called the "acute phase", the protein composition of the blood plasma begins to change. An illness is always a stress for a child’s body, therefore, the content of C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, cryoglobulin, gamma globulins, etc. increases. This leads to an increase in blood viscosity, therefore, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation slows down, and ESR increases.
• immature erythrocytes. Another reason may be the appearance of immature forms of red blood cells. Usually, the indicator already rises 24-30 hours after the onset of the disease, which is characterized by the presence of a focus of inflammation. Prolonged inflammation increases the content of immunoglobulins and fibrinogen.

Possible diseases

The reason for the increase in ESR in the blood in children may be the following diseases.

In addition, in many pathologies, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation can also be increased:

• anemia;
• myeloma;
• leukemia;
• lymphoma;
• thyrotoxicosis;
• diabetes;
• hemoglobinopathies;
• autoimmune diseases (lupus).

For some time after the child's recovery, the ESR value sometimes remains elevated (1-3 months). In oncological diseases, it is high for a long time.

False positive

There are cases when some factors cause a long-term rise in this indicator. For example, an increased value can be when:

• anemia;
• taking vitamin A (retinol);
• obesity
• renal failure;
• vaccination against hepatitis B;
• hypercholesterolemia;
• hyperproteinemia.

If the child looks healthy, he has no complaints and any symptoms of the disease, and the ESR is increased in the child, then the pediatrician may prescribe additional methods for examining the tonsils, lymph nodes, spleen, heart, kidneys, ECG, x-ray of the lungs, blood tests to determine the content total protein, immunoglobulins, platelet and reticulocyte counts.

ESR helps to reveal certain data about the child's health only in combination with other blood indicators, and, if required, with additional examination methods.

When a complete examination does not reveal any reason for the increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, then the pediatrician can draw a conclusion about the individual characteristics of the organism. Sometimes ESR is elevated with normal all other blood counts. In this case, it is necessary to repeat the analysis after a while to make sure that the child is healthy.

Is treatment necessary to normalize ESR?

Usually the indicator returns to normal after recovery. Treatment is determined by the pediatrician, prescribing special medicines that are necessary for recovery (antibiotics, antiviral drugs, antihistamines, etc.)

If the increase in the indicator is caused by a cause not related to an infectious disease or a focus of inflammation, then the doctor will prescribe other methods for its correction.

There is a direct correlation between the activity of the pathological process and the level of ESR, the stronger and more extensive the inflammatory process, the higher the indicator. With a mild degree of the disease, the indicator normalizes faster than with a severe one. Therefore, its value reflects the success of the treatment.

With a long-term increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the doctor may recommend a blood test for C-reactive protein (C-reactive protein, CPR), which is a sensitive indicator of the inflammatory process.

Reduced value

In some cases, the reduced value of the indicator may be less than the established age norm for the child. Most often, with this condition, an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood is observed for various reasons:

A decrease in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation is less common, however, after a while it is necessary to repeat the analysis. The norm of ESR in the blood in children indicates that the child is healthy, so a preventive examination and blood test will help determine his condition.

Conclusion

ESR is a non-specific topical blood test that reflects the state of health of the child. Its increase most often indicates the presence of a focus of inflammation, and the value of the indicator reflects the activity of the pathological process.

print