Neutropenia in Children

What is Neutropenia?

Neutropenia is the medical term for a decrease in the number of white blood cells called neutrophils.

What does low neutrophils mean?

Bacterial “Fighters”
Neutrophils are particularly important in fighting bacterial infections. Bacteria is responsible for causing many different types of infections (e.g. some common ear infections, skin and wound infections) but sometimes these infections can be serious (e.g. blood infections).

Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics unlike viral infections e.g. flu like illnesses, and the common cold which do not require treatment with antibiotics. Because your body has low neutrophils, you may be more susceptible to bacterial infections because you have fewer neutrophils to ‘fight’ the infection.

Why do I have low neutrophils?

There are a number of reasons why people have low neutrophils. Some people are born with low neutrophils, other people develop conditions that cause low neutrophils – these include immune problems, exposure to some drugs and some viral infections (such as flu like illnesses). There are a number of other rare causes of neutropenia.

Diagnosis: What tests are needed to find out why I have got neutropenia?

The types of blood tests required to determine the cause of the neutropenia will depend on how long you have had the low neutrophils. Sometimes only one or two blood tests are required; other times many blood tests and even a bone marrow test may be required.

Treatment & Management: What do I need to do about the neutropenia?

The major problem or risk factor with neutropenia is the risk of developing a (serious) bacterial infection. Sometimes it is difficult to find out if you have a bacterial infection (which needs treatment with antibiotics) or a viral infection (which does not need treatment with antibiotics).

Do I need to stay away from other people with infections?

Most infections that people pass on to each other are viral infections (e.g. the common cold). Most serious bacterial infections are not easily transferred from one person to the next. Generally you do not need to isolate yourself from other people.

How long will I have neutropenia?

This will depend on the cause of the neutropenia. Although some causes of neutropenia will not get better, most causes of neutropenia get better over a couple of months or sometimes years. Other causes of neutropenia take many years to get better.