Neutropenia (say "noo-truh-PEE-nee-uh") means that your blood has too few neutrophils. These are white blood cells that help protect the body from infection. They do this by killing bacteria.
Neutropenia can be caused by some types of infection. It also can be caused by immune system conditions such as HIV or lupus, a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid, or an enlarged spleen. Some medicines can cause it too. It is most often caused by treatments for certain health problems, such as chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.
Mild neutropenia usually causes no symptoms. But when it's severe, it increases the risk of infection of your skin and organs. That's because your body can't fight off germs as well as it should.
Neutropenia is an abnormally low number of neutrophils in a person's blood. A neutrophil is a type of white blood cell that helps protect the body against infection by destroying bacteria.
Neutropenia may be caused by certain cancers, exposure to radiation, some kinds of infection (such as HIV infection), a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid, an autoimmune disease (such as lupus), or treatment for certain diseases (such as chemotherapy for cancer).
When you have neutropenia, you can get infections easily because your white blood cell count is low. Your body can't fight off germs as well as it should. Even a mild infection can quickly become serious. So it's important to take extra measures to avoid infections and to be alert for signs of infection. Your doctor can tell you how long to keep up these precautions.
Fever is a common sign of infection. So if you have neutropenia, your doctor may ask you to check your temperature every day and keep a written record of your readings.
Common signs of infection include:
Other possible signs include a sore throat or mouth sores, vaginal drainage or itching, diarrhea, pain when you urinate, and a need to urinate often.
If your white blood cell count is very low, your doctor may give you medicine to help protect you, such as:
If you get an infection or a fever, you may need to be treated in the hospital. To fight the infection, your doctor may give you antibiotics through a vein (intravenous, or I.V.). This gets the medicine into your bloodstream quickly. Some people may be allowed to take antibiotics by mouth.
Neutropenia is sometimes found during a routine blood test. Your doctor will ask about your past health and any symptoms you have. You may have a physical exam. You may also have tests to check the level of white blood cells and other blood cells. Other tests may be done to find the cause.
Neutropenia (say "noo-truh-PEE-nee-uh") means that your blood has too few white blood cells called neutrophils. White blood cells are an important part of your body's immune system. Neutrophils help protect your body from infection by killing bacteria.
Neutropenia is often caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments destroy cancer cells. But they can also decrease your body's ability to make white blood cells.
Other causes include:
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