A high white blood cell count may be physiological, as it may increase after a full meal, after strenuous exercise, or when a person is emotionally disturbed, but the increase is only temporary. In addition, women can also have high white blood cells after five months of pregnancy or during childbirth; newborns can also have high white blood cells. Acute infections or inflammatory conditions, such as septic infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus infections, can lead to significantly higher white blood cells, such as common septic appendicitis, septic tonsillitis, and lobar pneumonia. In addition, severe tissue trauma, such as myocardial infarction or severe trauma, can also result in high white blood cells.