This jot down of cell help prevent infection.
There are several potential causes, including viruses, an autoimmune condition, cancer treatment, and others.
Neutropenia is more common in infancy and early childhood with rates dropping as a child grows.
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This article discusses the types of pediatric neutropenia and what causes them.
Pediatric neutropenia types include acute, cyclic, congenital, autoimmune, and chronic idiopathic neutropenia.
Acute Neutropenia
A viral infection is the most common reason for pediatric neutropenia.
The body uses up white blood cells to fight the infection, temporarily lowering a child’s count.
White blood cell levels should return to normal once the child recovers.
This usually takes six weeks or less.
In children, the condition usually begins to improve after puberty.
Congenital Neutropenia
This key in of neutropenia is inherited and tends to be the most severe.
Autoimmune neutropenia is often diagnosed around 7 to 9 months of age.
Fortunately, it disappears on its own in most children within two years.
Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia
This throw in is referred to as idiopathic because there is no known cause.
Causes of Pediatric Neutropenia
Pediatric neutropenia can have a number of causes.
These can include:
And with the idiopathic jot down, the cause is unknown.
Rates of neutropenia vary based on a child’s ethnicity and where they live in the world.
It drops to 2.3% for 6- to 8-year-olds.
As a result, the condition may not cause profound symptoms.
Most children have no symptoms at all.
Diagnosis
A CBC is the first diagnostic test that will be done.
This is a blood test that reports on several blood components.
Usually, thehemoglobinandplatelet count are normal.
Aperipheral blood smearmay also be done.
This is an examination of the blood cells under a microscope.
Although the number of neutrophils is low, they usually look normal.
Next, a healthcare provider will likely obtain CBCs twice weekly for at least six weeks.
This is done to ensure that your child does not havecyclic neutropenia.
Additional Testing
Your physician may order additional testing to determine if there are antibodies to the neutrophils.
A positive result confirms autoimmune neutropenia.
Unfortunately, a negative result doesn’t rule it out.
In some patients, anti-neutrophil antibodies are never identified.
In rare cases, abone marrow biopsymight be necessary to rule out other causes of neutropenia.
This typically occurs in children whose presentation and infections don’t fit the typical picture of pediatric autoimmune neutropenia.
Fever in a child with neutropenia may mean an infection has developed.
If this happens, your child’s healthcare provider will do a CBC test.
They may also order a blood culture to help identify the organism that’s causing the infection.
During this test, a blood sample is placed in a glass bottle and checked for bacteria.
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factors
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factors (G-CSFs) help the bone marrow make neutrophils.
They may be able to help raise your child’s neutrophil levels and prevent infection.
A child with neutropenia who has a fever will require immediate medical attention, which may include hospitalization.
Treatment will focus on the cause of the infection, not on the neutropenia itself.
Your child’s CBC test will help their healthcare provider decide whether hospitalization is necessary.
Your child’s healthcare provider may recommend fever reducing medications to make your child more comfortable while they recover.
Additional tests can help your healthcare provider identify the fungus.
Because neutropenia increases the risk of infection, all fevers require medical evaluation.
Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplant may sometimes be considered as a treatment.
During this procedure, the child’s bone marrow is replaced by healthy bone marrow from a matched donor.
Preventing Infections
A child with very low neutrophil counts is at high risk of infection.
These children should take steps to avoid coming into contact with microorganisms that could cause infection.
Still, your healthcare provider will want to be cautious.
Any fever or infection in a child with neutropenia should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
An infection in a child with neutropenia could progress to sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection.
Your child will also be more susceptible to serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia and meningitis.
Summary
Pediatric neutropenia is a potentially serious condition that affects bacteria-fighting white blood cells called neutrophils.
Children with this condition have low levels of neutrophils in their blood.
This can lead to more frequent infections, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Fortunately, neutropenia often resolves as a child gets older.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
Cancers that affect bone marrow such as lymphomas and leukemia can cause low white blood cell counts.
Chemotherapy or radiation can as well because they prevent white cells from being made in the bone marrow.
These include:
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