They help protect the body against infections.
Or, it can be an effect of medications or common cancer treatments.
Neutropenia increases the risk and severity of infections.
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Depending on the cause and severity of neutropenia, there can be an increased potential for infections.
Common symptoms include:
Severe infections can cause shortness of breath or changes in consciousness and may require hospitalization.
If you have neutropenia, you may also experience symptoms associated with the cause of a low neutrophil count.
Common causes include medications, radiation therapy, cancer, bone marrow disease, and infections.
After a mild to moderate infection resolves, the neutrophils should return to a normal amount.
Neutrophils are produced in the bone marrow.
Bone marrow disorders, includingaplastic anemiaandmyelodysplastic syndrome, can cause neutropenia.
Some types of cancer can invade the bone marrow, preventing the normal production of neutrophils.
Blood cancers may cause an excess of some blood cells and a deficiency of others.
What Medications Can Cause Neutropenia?
Many different medications can cause neutropenia, especially chemotherapeutic medications, which are used to treat cancer.
However, other medications can also cause neutropenia.
A sample of the medications that can cause neutropenia include:
Radiation therapy can also sometimes cause neutropenia.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapeutics usually cause neutropenia.
The complications of neutropenia usually have to be treated, and sometimes neutropenia can be treated too.
Treatment for neutropenia can include stopping and potentially replacing any medication causing it, if possible.
Medications are sometimes prescribed to promote white blood cell production in the bone marrow.
Infections that occur due to neutropenia may need treatment with antibiotics, draining of an abscess, or surgery.
This means takingprecautionsyou might not otherwise need to take if your neutrophil count was normal.
Are There Tests that Can Diagnose the Cause of Neutropenia?
Neutropenia is diagnosed with acomplete blood count(CBC), which is a standard blood test.
A CBC will identify the number and percent of different types of blood cells in the blood sample.
The pattern of these changes helps differentiate the underlying cause of neutropenia.
Neutrophil countnormally falls within a standard range.
Some tests can help determine the cause of neutropenia if it isnt already known.
Blood cancers, cancer metastasis to the bone marrow, and bone marrow disease can also cause it.
Depending on the cause and severity, neutropenia may increase the risk of infection.
Neutropenia is noted by a complete blood count test.
If due to a medication or cancer treatment, it may be monitored until resolved.
Medications may be given in some cases to stimulate neutrophil production.
A Word From Verywell
Finding out that you have neutropenia can be stressful.
You should take extra precautions to avoid infections and injuries if you have neutropenia.
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