Fighting Infection

For every 600 red blood cells in your body there is one white blood cell.

These transparent cells are bigger than red blood cells and they are not all the same. Their job is to fight infection but the different white blood cells do it in slightly different ways.

When bacteria enter your body, extra white blood cells are made instantly. Some of them, called phagocytes or 'cell eaters', go to the source of infection and surround the bateria. This is called 'engulfing'. Once the bacteria are trapped, a chemical is released to digest them.