Are you someone who often gets allergies? Do you start to itch after a dusty breath, do you get rashes after eating food, or do you just scratch your body sometimes? Today we are talking about a small but very important soldier behind all these things. You may have seen the word 'Basophils' in one of your blood reports, that is, in a 'Full Blood Count'. So, what are these basophils ? Why do our bodies need them? Let's talk about this in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
What exactly is a basophil?
Simply put, basophils are a type of white blood cell (`White Blood Cell` - WBC) in our blood. Imagine that our body is like a country. Then white blood cells are the defense force of this country. There are different forces in this force. So, there are five types of white blood cells. Basophils are the least numerous of the five types, which means they are a very rare force.
Inside these basophil cells are tiny granules. These granules are filled with a very important chemical called histamine. This histamine is responsible for the itchy, red eyes, and runny nose you get when you have an allergy. Basophils also help protect our bodies from parasites and heal wounds .
Nature and properties of basophils
These properties of basophils are very important for doctors to diagnose certain diseases. Let's take a look at some information about this little soldier.
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Size | These are very small, about 5-10 micrometers (µm) in size. |
| Appearance and color | When a special dye (Wright-Giemsa stain) is applied, the histamine-filled granules inside these cells appear dark purple. These can be easily identified under a microscope. |
| Cell center (Nucleus) | The center of the cell is usually shaped like the letter 'S'. |
| Lifespan and birth | Basophils are produced in the bone marrow inside our bones. Once they are produced there, they only live for about 60 hours after entering the blood. |
| Surface Markers | Certain special proteins on the surface of these cells (such as `CD-123`, `CD-193`) help doctors diagnose diseases such as certain blood cancers (`Leukemia`). |
What service do basophils provide to our body?
The main function of basophils is to release the histamine we talked about earlier. But in addition, these little cells perform a great service for our bodies.
- Protection from Allergens : When things like dust and pollen enter the body, it fights them off.
- Fighting parasites: These are activated during parasitic infections such as pinworms .
- Wound healing : It helps in the healing process of wounds.
- Preventing blood clots: These cells also release a chemical called heparin, which helps dissolve unwanted blood clots.
The relationship between allergies and basophils
Imagine a mosquito biting your hand. After a while, the area becomes red, swollen, and itches a lot, right? That's what histamine, which is released from basophils, does.
What histamine does is increase blood flow to the area. This then brings more blood to the area, "washing" it out, helping to flush out the allergen. This swelling and inflammation is actually part of the healing process.
When an allergen enters the body of a person with an allergy, the immune system makes a type of antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). This IgE goes and attaches to the allergen. Then basophils come and attack this IgE-allergen complex, releasing all the histamine they have inside. That's when you get the symptoms of an allergy.
- Runny nose, sneezing
- Red, itchy eyes
- Itchy throat
- Skin rash, itching
- Difficulty breathing in asthma patients
How do you check the basophil level in your blood?
If your doctor orders you to have a `Complete Blood Count (CBC)` test, or as we call it, a `full blood count,` the basophil count will also be listed on that report. This can be included in the report in two ways.
1. As a percentage (%): What percentage of the total white blood cells are basophils? Usually this is a very small value, around 0.5% - 1%.
2. Absolute Count: The actual number of basophils per milliliter of blood.
The most important thing is to compare your values with the 'Normal Range' or 'Reference Range' column on your lab report, as these normal values may vary slightly depending on the machine used in each lab.
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Normal Count | Between 0.5% - 2% of white blood cells. The absolute value can usually range from 0.01 x 10⁹/L to 0.08 x 10⁹/L. |
| Increased level (Basophilia) | Basophil levels are higher than normal. |
| Low level (Basopenia) | Basophil levels falling below normal. |
Is an increase in basophils (basophilia) dangerous?
An increase in basophil levels is medically known as ``Basophilia.'' There can be several reasons for this.
- Allergies: Allergies to things like food, medicine, dust, etc.
- Infections: Some infections like chickenpox and influenza.
- Thyroid problems: Low thyroid hormone (`Hypothyroidism`).
- Skin diseases: Eczema-like skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis.
- Blood diseases: Conditions like polycythemia vera.
- Some cancer conditions: Blood cancers such as chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Don't be alarmed by this list. Most of the time, a slightly elevated basophil count could be due to something as simple as a common allergy. But you should leave it to your doctor to figure out the exact cause. He or she will do further tests if necessary to confirm the cause.
What is basopenia?
A decrease in basophil levels is called ``Basopenia.`` This is a little rarer than ``Basophilia.`` This can also be caused by several reasons.
- Some infections.
- Excessive production of thyroid hormone (`Hyperthyroidism`).
- A severe, immediate allergic reaction (`Anaphylaxis`).
- Some immune system diseases, for example `Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)`.
A decrease in basophils can also have an impact on our body's wound healing process.
When to seek immediate medical advice
Although a normal allergy is not dangerous, sometimes the immune system can overreact. This is called `Anaphylaxis`.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you or someone else experiences any of the following symptoms, go to the nearest hospital emergency department (ETU) immediately.
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, or face
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Rash or redness of the skin all over the body
- Stomach ache, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Chest tightness or a whistling sound
- Feeling dizzy or faint
At times like this, it is very important not to panic and seek medical treatment immediately.
Take-Home Message
- Basophils are an important type of white blood cell in our immune system that fights allergies and parasitic infections.
- Histamine, which is released by them, is the cause of many of the symptoms of allergies, such as itching and swelling.
- If your basophil level in your blood report is outside the normal range, don't panic and talk to your doctor. Often the cause can be something simple.
- If you experience severe allergy symptoms such as difficulty breathing and facial swelling, it is an emergency. Go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
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