Neutropenia (new-tro-PEE-nia) is a condition in which you have low levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. Chemotherapy and other treatments for cancer can cause it.
It can make you more likely to get infections, especially in your mouth, throat, lungs and sinuses. Take extra precautions — such as wearing a mask — and washing your hands well.
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Neutropenia occurs when you have lower-than-normal levels of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that your bone marrow makes. Neutrophils help your body fight germs that cause infections like viruses and bacteria. If you have very low levels of neutrophils, you’re more likely to get bacterial infections of the skin, mouth and gums, intestines and sinuses. You’re also at risk for serious infections in your lungs and heart.
If you have severe neutropenia, doctors will treat your fever and any signs of infection by giving you antibiotics to fight them. They will also give you a growth factor called granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to increase your number of neutrophils.
Doctors will ask about your or your child’s history of illnesses and infections. They will look for a pattern of recurrent infections, which may indicate that you have cyclic neutropenia. They will also ask about any medications that you or your child are taking.
If the doctor suspects that you have neutropenia, they will order a blood test to measure your or your child’s neutrophil count. They will also do a physical exam and check for other symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes or an enlarged spleen. They will also do a bone marrow aspirate to find out the cause of your or your child’s neutropenia.
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Neutropenia can cause painful sores in the mouth called ulcers or aphthous stomatitis. These sores can be very uncomfortable, and if left untreated they can become infected and lead to serious illness.
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, but they also destroy some of the blood cells that fight infections. This can lower your neutrophil count, which makes you more susceptible to infection.
Infections are common in people with neutropenia. If your neutrophils are low, the bacteria in an infection can be more harmful than usual. These infections can occur in your lungs, mouth, throat, ears, skin or sinuses. They may cause pain and swelling or a rash at the infection site, fever, a throbbing headache or burning sensation when you urinate.
If your neutrophils are low because of infection, they will usually go back to normal after the infection goes away. But if your neutrophils are low because of chemotherapy, they will take longer to return to normal.
A doctor will examine you and note the location of any mouth sores or aphthous
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Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell made by the bone marrow that fight germs that cause infections. People with neutropenia have lower-than-normal levels of these cells, which makes it harder for their bodies to fight infections. Neutropenia can come on suddenly (acute), last for months or longer (chronic), or it can occur and then go away again (cyclic).
People with severe neutropenia are at the highest risk of developing infections, especially if they also have other types of cancers, infections in the lungs or sinuses or other serious health problems. These people are often hospitalized and given antibiotics immediately when they develop a fever, even if the doctor doesn’t know what the cause is. Repeated use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other side effects, such as diarrhea or inflammation of the intestines.
Doctors can treat mild to moderate neutropenia by giving patients growth factors, such as granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), which stimulates the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils. They can also give them medicine to prevent infection, such as fluconazole or rifampicin. People with severe, cyclic or congenital neutropenia may need a bone marrow transplant. This is often done if their neutropenia is caused by leukemia or another type of cancer treatment. They can have the transplant in a hospital or they can have it at home.
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Neutropenia symptoms often disappear once the levels of neutrophils are back to normal. Usually, this occurs when the neutropenia is temporary and results from treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer.
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that help the body fight infections, especially bacteria. People with low levels of neutrophils may develop infection symptoms such as fever, mouth sores or diseases of the tissues that surround and support teeth (periodontitis) or inflammation of the sinuses, throat and ears (pharyngitis or sinusitis).
If the cause of the neutropenia is known — such as medication, bone marrow disease or other health condition — it is likely that the neutropenia will return to normal after the condition or medications that caused it are eliminated from the body. However, if the cause is not known or is not predictable, it is important for the person to follow up with a doctor regularly.
A doctor will check a person’s blood to measure the level of neutrophils. He or she will also ask detailed questions about a person’s symptoms and examine him from head to toe. In some cases, a chest X-ray or a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen will be done. If a person has a fever or a severe infection that cannot be explained by the low neutrophil count, he or she may need antibiotics or other special care.