What should be the normal ESR level in a child’s blood? Increased ESR in the blood of a child How much ESR should be in children

Reading time: 7 minutes. Views 1.1k.

Briefly speaking about what ESR is, it is one of the indicators of a general blood test that reflects the state of health. If this indicator increases, then there is a suspicion of the development of an inflammatory process in the body. The ESR norm in children may vary depending on age and gender.

How is the analysis carried out?

Blood sampling to determine ESR is carried out in the morning on an empty stomach. The biomaterial is taken from a vein or finger. In newborns - from the heel. The test requires a few drops of blood, so it does not pose any danger.

The area from which the material will be taken is wiped with an antiseptic, then a puncture is made. The first drop is wiped away. This allows you to avoid impurities getting into the biomaterial. A special vessel is used for collection.

The blood flow should be free, without pressure on the puncture site. Otherwise, mixing with lymph will occur, and as a result the data will be unreliable. To ensure free flow of blood, you need to warm the child's hand using warm water or any other method.

When drawing blood from a vein in the forearm, a tourniquet is applied and the patient is asked to clench his fist several times. This will ensure that the needle enters the vein accurately.

How often do you get your blood tested?

Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

Only as prescribed by the attending physician 32%, 111 votes

Once a year and I think that’s enough 18%, 64 vote

At least twice a year 13%, 46 votes

More than twice a year but less than six times 12%, 42 vote

I monitor my health and rent once a month 7%, 24 vote

I'm afraid of this procedure and try not to pass 5%, 16 votes

21.10.2019

To prevent a small patient from interfering with the blood test, many medical institutions allow one of the parents to be present during the test in order to create a comfortable atmosphere for the child.

There are often cases when a child becomes ill after the procedure: nausea and dizziness may appear. In this case, you need to offer him something sweet.

How much should the ESR be?

A child's ESR depends on his age. Indicators may even vary depending on gender. For girls they may have slightly greater meanings than for boys of the same age.

Norms of ESR in the blood of children can be presented in the table by age:

The ESR indicator in a child’s blood is influenced by various factors, so it cannot be stable and changes with each study. If after several procedures the results show a deviation from the norm for ESR for children, disturbances in the functioning of the body are likely. For example, if a child at 2 years old has an ESR value of no more than 9, this is normal. If the research results show a value of 18, then a repeat analysis will be required, as well as a comprehensive examination that will help identify the reasons for such a deviation from the norm.

In a baby

In a newborn, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is low. This is explained by reduced metabolic processes. In children under one year of age, the rates increase. This is how the body responds to the activation of metabolic processes. A short-term increase in indicators may be recorded for up to 6 months. This is due to changes in blood composition. In some cases, fluctuations may be caused by teething. Increased indicators in infants will also be recorded in the presence of inflammatory processes. After the child recovers, the indicators will return to normal.

From 1 to 3 years

In a baby's first year of life, ESR values ​​gradually increase. In the period from 1 year to 2 years they are in the range of 5-8 mm/h. The norm for ESR in children 3 years old is 5-12. Small changes in indicators over 3 years should not cause concern.

More than 4 years

In the blood, the ESR norm differs depending on gender and age. Thus, the values ​​​​that were recorded at the age of 4 years will differ slightly from the indicators of a 5 year old child. Minor increases will be recorded in children at 6 years of age and after 7 years.

As you get older, the level of red blood cells in your blood will change due to physiological changes in your body. At 10 years of age, the ESR levels will still be the same for children of both sexes. A slight difference will begin to appear during adolescence. Teenage girls will have slightly higher rates than boys. In addition, the older children become, the more the normative boundaries of analysis expand.

Reasons for the low level

Indicators below normal are less common than elevated ones. If an increase is most often the result of the influence of external factors that are not related to the child’s health, then a decreased level is almost always evidence of disturbances in the functioning of the body.

If the ESR is low, then most often this means that there are disturbances in the functioning of the circulatory system. At the same time, the number of red blood cells in the blood is normal or may even increase slightly, but the interaction between them remains weak. If the analysis shows a value below normal, this may indicate poor coagulation or severe blood thinning, or impaired blood flow.

A low ESR in a child’s blood may indicate dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, the development of hepatitis, or poisoning. In children in the first months of life, dehydration can occur as a result of a lack of water in the baby's diet. Decreased results indicate an unbalanced diet and a deficiency of protein in the body.

There are often cases when, against the background of hereditary pathologies, it shows reduced values. To confirm, it will be necessary to analyze other data that a detailed blood test showed.

False positive result

Often you have to deal with the fact that the analysis results in not entirely accurate data. Doctors in such a situation declare a false positive result. The data that such a test shows cannot be considered correct. They cannot be evidence that a disease is developing in the body.

A false positive result may occur due to:

• Anemia, without morphological changes.
• Increased concentration of protein compounds in plasma. The only exception is fibrinogen.
• Insufficient kidney function.
• Hypercholesterolemia.
• Excess weight.
• Taking vitamin A.
• Vaccinations against hepatitis.

In adult women, false positive test results may occur during pregnancy.

If a child has an elevated ESR, but he feels normal, does not complain about anything and does not have any symptoms of the disease, the doctor may refer him for additional tests:

• X-rays of light.
• Examination of the condition of the tonsils, lymph nodes, heart, spleen, kidneys.
• Blood tests to determine the presence of total protein, immunoglobulins, platelet and reticulocyte counts.

ESR in combination with other blood indicators allows us to draw a conclusion about the child’s health status. If, as a result of a complete examination, it was not possible to identify the reasons for the increase in ESR, a conclusion is drawn about the individual characteristics of the body. In some cases, ESR may be elevated, but all other blood parameters remain within normal limits. In this situation, repeated tests are carried out after some time to make sure that everything is fine with the child.

Incorrect test results may be the result of technical violations committed during diagnostics: non-compliance with the temperature regime or insufficient exposure of the biomaterial, lack of anticoagulants used during the test.

Why is the value lowered?

Most often it means an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood. This condition can result from various reasons:

• Increased blood viscosity.
• Anisocytosis.
• Spherocytosis.
• Heart defects.
• Liver diseases.
• Polycythemia.
• Acute intestinal infection.
• Dehydration.
• Severe poisoning.
• Acidosis.

A reduced erythrocyte sedimentation rate is rare, however, it is a reason to conduct repeated studies. A blood test together with a preventive examination will help determine the child’s condition.

What to do in case of deviations

When test results show deviations from the norm, this is always a reason for concern. In the case of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, it is necessary to first assess how much the indicators differ from the norm.

If the ESR is 15 or lower, we can talk about a false positive result, which was provoked by external factors. In this situation, a repeat test may be recommended. If the results remain unchanged and there are no complaints of malaise, no additional actions need to be taken.

An indicator of 20 CJ indicates an inflammatory process. An ESR in children over 30 mm/h indicates severe pathologies; heart pathologies or chronic infectious diseases are possible.

It is impossible to draw any conclusions based on the ESR level, since this is an unstable indicator. To confirm or refute the diagnosis, it is recommended to undergo additional studies.

There is no special treatment for deviations. ESR is only an indicator that allows you to judge the condition of internal organs. Therapy is prescribed only after determining the cause of the deviations and clarifying the diagnosis. After eliminating the main cause of the change, the ESR quickly returns to normal.

When diagnosing diseases, doctors check the normal ESR level in the child’s blood. Not many people know what ESR is and how this indicator reflects a person’s health status. However, this analysis can reveal the presence of serious diseases in the early stages. What is ESR and for what reasons can it deviate from the norm in children? What is the normal ESR level in the blood of a child from zero to 18 years old in the table.

The normal ESR level in a child’s blood is:

ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. As you know, blood consists of two parts: liquid - plasma and dense - red blood cells. During the test, blood is taken from a child from a vein or from a finger, placed in a measuring tube and diluted with a special drug that blocks blood clotting. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is then monitored, measured in millimeters per hour. This result is the ESR.

It is important to know that each age has its own ESR norm. In a newborn baby, the ESR norm changes literally within a few days, so the indicators can differ dramatically. In an adult, the norm changes only in special cases, for example, pregnancy and taking medications.

Normal ESR rate for a child under one year of age

ESR can change depending on many factors, for example, the emotional state of the child. This is why the normal range is so wide. Below is the normal ESR rate for a child from birth to one year.

ESR norm from 1 year to 18 years

Reasons for increased ESR in a child

An elevated ESR in a child is a reason to seek medical examination. However, in order to make an accurate diagnosis, one ESR indicator is not enough; it is important to take other symptoms into account.

An increase in ESR may indicate the presence of some kind of inflammatory process or serious disease. But a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate does not always indicate illness. An increase in ESR can be affected by:

• Lack of vitamins - vitamin deficiency;
• Teething;
• Overexcited nervous system;
• Taking certain medications;
• Changes in diet;
• Helminthiasis (worms).

If all these factors are excluded, then the presence of a disease may indicate an increase in ESR. The reasons for increased ESR include:

• Infection;
• Allergy;
• Oncological diseases;
• Hormonal disbalance;
• Trauma or burn;
• Diabetes;
• Anemia.

Causes of low ESR in a child

In medical practice, a decrease in ESR is much less common than an increase. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate can be reduced by:

• Heart diseases;
• Hemophilia (anemia)
• Exhaustion or dehydration;
• Liver dysfunction;
• Autoimmune diseases;
• Poor circulation;
• Changes in the acid-base balance in the body.

It is important to know!

Sometimes test results can be false. This occurs due to other factors that affect the speed of red blood cells. These include:

• Excess weight;
• Recent hepatitis B vaccination;
• Taking vitamin A;
• Kidney problems.

An increase or decrease in ESR itself has no symptoms. A child may feel quite normal if the ESR deviates from the norm. Each concomitant disease has its own symptoms that are worth paying attention to:

• Thirst, drinking more water, and frequent urination can be symptoms of diabetes.
• Enlarged lymph nodes, weakness and decreased immunity can be a sign of cancer.
• Chest pain and cough with changes in the ESR norm indicate tuberculosis.
• Viruses and infections are accompanied by: fever, headaches, shortness of breath.
• Sometimes an increased or decreased ESR is simply an individual characteristic of the child.

After treating a disease that was accompanied by a change in ESR, you should not rush to do a repeat analysis. ESR may return to normal within 1-2 months.

Analysis of erythrocyte sedimentation rate is widely used in pediatrics as an auxiliary method in diagnosing diseases.

To correctly interpret this indicator, it is necessary to know the ESR norms in infants, young children and adolescents.

In contact with

Classmates

ESR is an indicator that determines the rheological properties of blood. This value depends on the ratio of proteins to its liquid part. For example, ESR decreases with an increase in the amount of albumin, which settles on red blood cells and reduces their aggregation (sticking together).

An increase in this value in adults and children above normal is observed with an increased content of globulins and fibrinogen.

ESR is a nonspecific laboratory indicator. It is impossible to make a diagnosis based solely on an increased or decreased result.

Sometimes normal indicators of this analysis are observed even in the presence of cancer. An increased ESR value can only be an indirect sign of inflammatory or other pathological processes (malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases).

Normal values ​​in children

ESR values ​​may vary by age. Reference values ​​are presented in the table below.

In a healthy child, the ESR indicator should be normal and correspond to the values ​​​​given in the table.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

In newborns

In a newborn child, compared with the results of an adult, the ESR is relatively small. Normally, its level is usually 1 – 4 mm/h. Sometimes an increase to 8 mm/h is possible.

During this period, when deciphering the analysis, the lowest ESR results are observed.

In infants

In breastfed children, the ESR level should not exceed 10-12 mm/h. This result in infants, as well as in children of other ages, will increase with any inflammatory processes. Once the baby recovers, it will slowly return to normal.

In a one-year-old child

After the child reaches one year of age, the ESR value gradually approaches the adult norm. The detection of an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate in children will always be a pathology.

The appearance of an elevated ESR result in a one-year-old child requires examination by a pediatrician.

In teenagers

During puberty in adolescents, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate should be normal.

The appearance of elevated ESR in children, which is accompanied by fatigue, weakness, and pallor, is an unfavorable symptom. In this case, you need to contact your pediatrician to identify the cause and prescribe treatment.

Methods of identification and decoding

To do this, two laboratory methods are used:

• according to Panchenkov;

• according to Westergren.

The indicator in question is measured in millimeters per hour. For analysis, blood taken on an empty stomach is used. A substance that prevents clotting is first added to the test tube. The formed elements of the blood settle down, and the plasma rises to the top. The size of the plasma layer formed on top of the sediment is what is called ESR.

Determining ESR using different methods gives the same results only if the values ​​are normal. When the indicators increase above the norm, their value, determined by Westergren, will be higher than that measured by Panchenkov.

According to Westergren

They use special automatic analyzers, vacuum tubes, or carry out the test manually. There are several variants of this method, in which the sizes of the tubes and the angle of their installation in the apparatus differ, allowing the analysis time to be reduced to 30 minutes.

Panchenkov method

They use a special apparatus and a special vessel, which is a graduated capillary.

It is carried out according to the following method:

1. A capillary with blood mixed with sodium citrate is placed vertically in a stand for one hour.
2. Measure the height of the layer above the sediment.

This distance shows how many millimeters the ESR value will be.

Blood tests must be taken on an empty stomach

ESR norms for healthy women are presented in the table.

Women may experience an increase in ESR results above normal during pregnancy (30-50 mm/h). This does not pose a risk to her body or the development of the fetus. After childbirth, this value returns to normal.

Normal ESR results in men are shown in the table.

In men, this value is usually several units less than in women.

It increases in children and adults with the following pathological conditions:

• acute viral infections;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• malignant neoplasms;
• autoimmune diseases;
• blood and bone marrow pathology: leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma;
• extensive burns, intoxication, poisoning;

In all these conditions, the presence of proteins in the acute phase of inflammation in the blood increases: antitrypsin, c-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin. They bind to red cells and increase the number of “heavy” red blood cells. ESR becomes higher than normal.

Accelerated ESR, detected against the background of acute pathologies or exacerbation of existing diseases, is the expected result. If this indicator increases without accompanying clinical manifestations, additional diagnostic methods are required.

Conclusion

1. An increase in ESR in a child requires consultation with a pediatrician to identify the cause.
2. The ESR level has limited diagnostic value. Its change depends not only on the presence of an inflammatory process.
3. Normal ESR results in children of any age do not always indicate the absence of pathology. The test result must be interpreted only in conjunction with other blood parameters and instrumental examination methods.

In contact with

You can find out a detailed picture of the child’s health status using a blood test. Its important element is the ESR indicator (erythrocyte sedimentation rate). This is a nonspecific parameter that is highly sensitive for determining pathologies of an infectious and oncological nature. From the materials in this article you will learn why some children have an ESR higher than normal, what this means, and what measures parents should take.

general information

ESR is one of the main parameters of a blood test. Red blood cells are red cells that, under the influence of anticoagulants, settle to the bottom of a medical test tube over a certain amount of time.

A similar process occurs in the human body. Over a certain period of time, red blood cells undergo a process of agglomeration and are gradually deposited on the walls of blood vessels. The ESR indicator is not assessed separately, that is, separately from others. It is highly sensitive. A change in this indicator signals the development of a certain pathology in the body before the appearance of a pronounced clinical picture.

Methods for determining the ESR value

Today, in medical practice, two options are used to determine the value of erythrocyte sedimentation: the Panchenkov and Westergren method.

The first involves placing biological fluid on glass, which is installed vertically. The second is considered more informative, since it optimally recreates the conditions of a similar process in the human body. Normally, the results of both tests should be identical.

The Westergren method is the most sensitive, because it uses only venous blood. When the test results are positive for a child, a repeat test is not required.

Normative indicators in children

After the doctor has taken the child's blood, he must place it in a special tube. In it, under the influence of gravity, red blood cells begin to gradually settle. The task of the laboratory assistant is with whom this process occurs.

Standard ESR values ​​vary in children and adults, and also differ depending on the sex of the child. However, there are certain boundaries that make it possible to indicate the presence of a pathological process in the body.

• Infants: from 2 to 4 mm/h.
• Children under 6 years old: from 5 to 11 mm/h.
• Adolescents under 14 years of age: from 5 to 13 mm/h.
• Young people over 14 years of age: from 1 to 10 mm/h.
• Girls over 14 years old: from 2 to 15 mm/h.

In a child, this does not always indicate the presence of inflammation in the body. To make an accurate diagnosis, a more detailed examination and determination of other parameters in the blood are necessary.

Elevated ESR levels in a child

Parents often find out about the disorder during a routine examination with a pediatrician. If the specialist does not see the reasons that could lead to the problem, a repeat test using a different method is prescribed.

A high ESR almost always suggests inflammation in the body. However, such an opinion must necessarily be supported by the results of an additional examination. Often, a high level of lymphocytes signals a viral infection, and an increase in neutrophils indicates a bacterial infection. Without taking into account the accompanying test data, it is not possible to identify the disease in a child.

The amount of red cell sedimentation may be outside the normal range in young children if they lack vitamins or are actively teething during the test. In older patients, the body reacts by increasing this blood parameter to stress or strong experiences.

What factors influence ESR levels in children?

The main factor that increases this indicator is the presence of an inflammatory reaction in the body. However, doctors also identify other reasons that contribute to a decrease/increase in the process of red cell sedimentation.

1. Changes in blood pH and viscosity.
2. Decrease in the number of red blood cells.
3. Presence of helminths.
4. Vitamin deficiency in the body.
5. Stress.
6. Unbalanced diet.

It is important to note that erythrocyte sedimentation rates are among those parameters that return to normal very slowly. After suffering from acute respiratory viral infection, a child may experience a high ESR for some time. After approximately 1.5 months, these parameters return to normal.

The main reasons for the increase in ESR

As noted earlier in the article, most often the reasons for changes in this blood indicator are hidden in the presence of inflammation in the body. In addition, allergic reactions, poisoning, and untreated foci of infection can provoke such phenomena.

The main diseases signaled by an increase in ESR in children include the following:

1. (lupus erythematosus, scleroderma).
2. Blood diseases (anemia, leukemia).
3. Endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism).
4. Oncology.

In infants, the ESR analysis is usually increased during teething or due to the high fat content of breast milk. Sometimes this condition is quite natural, that is, it is the individual norm of the body. In such cases, pediatricians recommend regular examinations.

It also happens that all indicators are normal except for the erythrocyte sedimentation value. False-positive acceleration may be due to the child's obesity, taking certain multivitamin complexes, or vaccination against hepatitis.

Monocytes in a child too

Monocytes are immature blood cells. Their level can also be determined using general analysis. When detailed information about the functioning of the child’s body is required, the leukocyte formula is checked. Increased and decreased levels of these blood cells indicate disorders. An increase in parameters is called monocytosis. Normally, the number of immature cells should not exceed 11% of the number of leukocytes.

A decrease in the level of monocytes indicates disturbances in the functioning of the immune system. This usually occurs with anemia, leukemia and radiation sickness.

It is observed in tuberculosis, malaria and damage to the lymphatic system. Thus, an increase in the number of immature cells, as well as an increased ESR in a child, should alert parents and pediatricians.

What treatment is required?

When the red cell sedimentation rate index is slightly higher than normal, the child’s condition is stable and there is no reason to worry. For your own comfort, after a short period of time, you can take tests again and make sure that nothing threatens your baby.

If the ESR parameters exceed 15 mm/h, this almost always means the presence of an infectious focus in the body. When this figure reaches approximately 30-40 mm/h, this is a clear sign of a serious disease, the fight against which may take several months.

An increased ESR in a child always means a disruption in the functioning of the body. The pediatrician first needs to determine the root cause that provoked such changes. This may require more serious examination. Afterwards, the doctor must prescribe treatment for a specific disease. This usually involves taking antibiotics and antivirals.

Reduced ESR in a child

A decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rates usually indicates poor circulation, poor clotting, or blood thinning. The number of red cells increases, but they interact with each other ineffectively.

This phenomenon is observed in children who have recently suffered poisoning or dehydration or have problems with bowel movements. In some cases, low levels indicate viral hepatitis.

Only a pediatrician can determine the true cause of this pathology and recommend appropriate therapy.

Conclusion

Very often, parents seek advice from a pediatrician when their child’s ESR is higher than normal. What this means, what are the causes of such disturbances in the functioning of the body, only a specialist can say on the basis of a complete diagnostic examination of a small patient. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a serious indicator, so it is not recommended to neglect its values. If abnormal, long-term treatment may be required. The sooner the course of therapy begins, the higher the chances of a quick recovery.

Dear Oksana!

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is an indicator indicating how quickly red blood cells - red blood cells - stick together, i.e. settle. If the ESR indicator is outside the normal range for age, this indicates that there is a reason that influenced this process. Typically, specialists analyze the overall picture, because ESR itself cannot indicate the development of any specific disease and cannot be a symptom of pathology. However, it cannot be excluded from the overall clinical picture.

ESR norms in children

The normal ESR level in a child’s blood depends on age:

• Newborns - 0 - 2 mm/h, maximum - 2.8 mm/h;
• 1 month - 2 - 5 mm/h;
• 2 - 6 months - 4 - 6 mm/h;
• 6 - 12 months - 3 - 10 mm/h;
• 1 - 5 years - 5 to 11 mm/h;
• 6 to 14 years old - from 4 to 12 mm/h;
• Over 14 years old: girls - from 2 to 15 mm/h, boys - from 1 to 10 mm/h.

Reasons for increasing ESR

If a child exhibits an increase in ESR, then most often experts assume the presence of some kind of infectious-inflammatory process. In this case, other indicators in the results of a general blood test must also be changed. The child’s behavior must also change, because any infection is accompanied by alarming symptoms and poor health.

In addition, erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases in some non-infectious diseases. It can be:

• Autoimmune or systemic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, systemic lupus erythematosus);
• Endocrine diseases (hyper- and hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus);
• Blood diseases, anemia, hemoblastosis;
• Oncological diseases, tuberculosis of the lungs and other organs, myocardial infarction, etc.;
• Injuries.

It should be noted that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate normalizes rather slowly after the child recovers, only after 4 - 6 weeks. Remember if your child had colds or other infectious or inflammatory diseases at the age of 1.5 - 2 months? If the answer is yes, then to make sure that the inflammation has passed, you can take a blood test for C-reactive protein, because the factor of unresolved infection in the case of pediatric diagnosis is most likely.

There are other, less dangerous reasons for increased ESR. For example, if you are breastfeeding, your blood test could be affected by eating fatty foods or taking certain medications, in particular paracetomol. ESR also increases during teething in children. This may also indicate a lack of vitamins or infection with worms. In case of an allergic reaction in children or heavy feeding before taking the test, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate may also increase.

If we talk about statistics, then infectious diseases are responsible for an increase in ESR by 40%, oncological diseases by 23%, systemic diseases by 17%, anemia, inflammation of the gallbladder or pancreas, intestines, ENT organs, etc. by 8%. .d., 3% - kidney disease.

What to do?

First of all, it is necessary to exclude a false result. Take a complete blood test again. If high ESR values ​​are observed over time, then you need to immediately consult a doctor, because the child may require in-depth diagnostics in order to exclude dangerous diseases. However, you should not worry ahead of time. Sometimes, although rarely, some children have a certain individual feature, manifested in an increase in ESR against the background of normal values ​​of other blood components.

Best regards, Ksenia.