What condition is suggested by a WBC count greater than 20,000?

A white blood cell (WBC) count greater than 20,000 cells per microliter is indicative of a significant abnormality in the body, commonly associated with various pathophysiological conditions. This elevated level can be seen in a variety of scenarios, most notably severe infections, where the body activates its immune response to fight off pathogens. In addition, certain cases of malignancy can lead to increased production of white blood cells, reflecting the body’s response to neoplastic processes.

Furthermore, steroid use can artificially elevate WBC counts, as steroids impact the immune system and can cause an increase in circulating white blood cells. Thus, the combination of these potential conditions explains why such a high WBC count may occur, differentiating it from the other options which either do not correlate with high white blood cell counts or represent a different aspect of hematologic health.

Severe dehydration typically presents other signs and symptoms and would not solely account for a significantly high WBC count. Chronic anemia usually results in low red blood cell counts and may not be associated with elevated white cell counts. Lastly, a normal immune response would not typically present with such an elevated WBC count; rather, it is expected to be within normal physiological ranges under conditions of