Final answer:
Corticosteroids cause neutrophilia by suppressing the production of other white blood cells and promoting the release of neutrophils from the bone marrow. This helps enhance the body's response to bacterial infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Corticosteroids can cause neutrophilia, or an increase in the number of neutrophils, due to their effects on the immune system. Corticosteroids suppress the production of other types of white blood cells, such as lymphocytes and monocytes, while promoting the release of neutrophils from the bone marrow. This imbalance leads to an increase in neutrophil count in the blood.
Neutrophils are rapid responders to infection, particularly bacterial infections. By increasing the number of neutrophils, corticosteroids help enhance the body's ability to fight off bacterial infections more effectively.
For example, in cases of strongyloidiasis, which is caused by a parasitic infection, corticosteroids can worsen the condition because the increase in neutrophils promotes the proliferation of the parasite in the body.