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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffNeutropenia (noo-troe-PEE-nee-uh) is an abnormally low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight off infections, particularly those caused by bacteria and fungi.
The threshold for defining neutropenia varies slightly from one medical practice to another. Neutropenia in adults is generally defined as a count of 1,700 or fewer neutrophils per microliter of blood. The cell count indicating neutropenia in children varies with age.
The lower your neutrophil count, the more vulnerable you are to infectious diseases. If you have severe neutropenia — fewer than about 500 cells per microliter of blood — bacteria normally present in your mouth and digestive tract can cause infections.
- Reagan JL, et al. Why is my patient neutropenic? Hematology Oncology Clinics of North America. 2012;26:253.
- Neutropenia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/hematology_and_oncology/neutropenia_and_lymphocytopenia/neutropenia.html. Accessed Nov. 8, 2012.
- Prchal JT, et al. Williams Hematology. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=69. Accessed Nov. 2, 2012.
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