Blood Disorders White Blood Cell Disorders An Overview of Pediatric Neutropenia Low White Blood Cell Count in Babies and Children By Amber Yates, MD Amber Yates, MD LinkedIn Twitter Amber Yates, MD, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist and a practicing physician at Baylor College of Medicine. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 28, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Facebook Jonathan Jassey, DO, is the founding pediatrician at Concierge Pediatrics in Long Island, New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Types Causes of Pediatric Neutropenia Pediatric Neutropenia Symptoms Diagnosis Pediatric Neutropenia Treatment Prognosis Frequently Asked Questions Pediatric neutropenia is an uncommon condition that causes a low count of white blood cells called neutrophils in babies and children. This type 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. This article discusses the types of pediatric neutropenia and what causes them. It also reviews symptoms, the diagnostic process, treatment options, and the prognosis for children with this condition. PeopleImages / Getty Images Types of Pediatric Neutropenia The type of neutropenia affecting a child factors into how long it may last, how it can be treated, and more. 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. Cyclic Neutropenia With this type, low neutrophil counts are only present for three to six days every three weeks (on average). Cyclic neutropenia can affect children and adults, and more than one person in a family is likely to have it. In children, the condition usually begins to improve after puberty. Congenital Neutropenia This type of neutropenia is inherited and tends to be the most severe. It is the most common type in children younger than 4 and is usually diagnosed when the child develops a life-threatening bacterial or fungal infection. Autoimmune Neutropenia (Chronic Benign Neutropenia of Childhood) With autoimmune neutropenia (AIN), bone marrow makes neutrophils as it should, but the body incorrectly makes antibodies to neutrophils that mark them for destruction. Autoimmune neutropenia is often diagnosed around 7 to 9 months of age. Fortunately, it disappears on its own in most children within two years. Autoimmune neutropenia that occurs in combination with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) or autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is called Evans Syndrome. Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia This type is referred to as idiopathic because there is no known cause. An Overview of Congenital Neutropenia Causes of Pediatric Neutropenia Pediatric neutropenia can have a number of causes. These can include: A bacterial infection such as tuberculosis A viral infection such as mononucleosis An autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to mistakenly destroy neutrophils Abnormal bone marrow production, which can happen as a result of a condition such as aplastic anemia or leukemia Radiation therapy or chemotherapy as a part of cancer treatment can destroy neutrophils And with the idiopathic type, the cause is unknown. Pediatric autoimmune neutropenia typically presents in infants 6 to 15 months of age, but can occur at any age. Rates of neutropenia vary based on a child's ethnicity and where they live in the world. In the United States, the rate of neutropenia is 7.2% for children under 2 years old and 3.7% for those ages 3 to 5. It drops to 2.3% for 6- to 8-year-olds. Globally, the condition is most prevalent among children in North African and Arab nations, affecting about 15.4% of children under 6 years of age. Overview of Neutropenia During Chemotherapy Pediatric Neutropenia Symptoms Despite the exceptionally low neutrophil count that defines pediatric neutropenia, serious infections are rare. As a result, the condition may not cause profound symptoms. Most children have no symptoms at all. However, you may notice that your child: Gets colds, ear infections, or sinus infections often; symptoms such as fever, sore throat, coughing, diarrhea, congestion, and chills are common when sick Gets urinary tract infections or infections of the reproductive tract Develops mouth sores, gum infections, or gum disease Gets skin infections and/or does not heal quickly In these cases, neutropenia may be discovered when a complete blood count (CBC) is done to diagnose an infection. When to Have Your Sick Child Evaluted Diagnosis A CBC is the first diagnostic test that will be done. This is a blood test that reports on several blood components. With pediatric neutropenia, the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is typically below 1000 cells per microliter and can be below 500. Usually, the hemoglobin and platelet count are normal. A peripheral blood smear may 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 have cyclic 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 these cases, if the age and presentation fit the picture of autoimmune neutropenia, the diagnosis is presumed. In rare cases, a bone marrow biopsy might 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. High and Low Neutrophil Blood Test Results Pediatric Neutropenia Treatment There is no specific treatment for neutropenia. If a child with the condition develops a fever, they will typically undergo a CBC. Your child's healthcare provider may also order a blood culture. During this test, a blood sample is placed in a glass bottle and checked for bacteria. Your child will also receive at least one dose of antibiotics. If the ANC is less than 500 cells/mL, your child will likely be admitted to the hospital on IV antibiotics for observation. Sometimes filgrastim (G-CSF) can be used during active infections to stimulate the release of neutrophils from bone marrow to blood circulation. If your child looks well and the ANC is greater than 1,000 cell/mL, they will likely be sent home for outpatient follow-up. Because neutropenia increases the risk of infection, all fevers require medical evaluation. If your child has autoimmune neutropenia, the anti-neutrophil antibodies will spontaneously disappear and the neutrophil count will return to normal. Spontaneous recovery occurs by years of age, with neutropenia lasting on average 20 months. Medications used for other immune blood disorders like steroids and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) are not as successful in autoimmune neutropenia. Prognosis Most children with neutropenia do not become seriously ill. 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. Most of the time, neutropenia is a disease of childhood that resolves on its own before adulthood. An Overview of White Blood Cell Disorders 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. Children with neutropenia may be diagnosed after a complete blood count is done as part of a diagnosis for a condition such as an ear or skin infection. Children with neutropenia are carefully monitored and may receive antibiotics or be admitted to the hospital for observation when they develop a fever. Fortunately, neutropenia often resolves as a child gets older. Frequently Asked Questions Do cancers cause low white blood cell count in children? 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. Learn More: What Is Bone Marrow? Can neutropenia turn into leukemia? In very rare cases, a treatment for severe chronic neutropenia known as G-CSF (a synthetic version of a hormone that stimulates bone marrow to produce neutrophils) has been associated with a small risk of pre-leukemia or leukemia. Learn More: Overview of Severe Congenital Neutropenia Are there foods one should avoid if they have neutropenia? Because the immune system may be weakened, some healthcare providers recommend avoiding foods that carry a risk of bacteria or foodborne illness. These include:Raw or undercooked meatCured meatsSmoked seafoodRaw fish and shellfishUnpasteurized dairy productsPackaged food with an expired "use by" dateFood that has been left out (including salad bar buffets) Learn More: How to Prevent E. Coli 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Celkan T, Koç BŞ. Approach to the patient with neutropenia in childhood. Turk Pediatri Ars. 2015;50(3):136-44. doi:10.5152/TurkPediatriArs.2015.2295 Newburger P. Autoimmune and other acquired neutropenias. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2016;2016(1):38-42. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2016.1.38 Farruggia P, Dufour C. Diagnosis and management of primary autoimmune neutropenia in children: insights for clinicians. Therapeutic Advances in Hematology. 2015;6(1):15-24. doi:10.1177%2F2040620714556642 Jaime-pérez J, Aguilar-calderón P, Salazar-cavazos L, Gómez-almaguer D. Evans syndrome: clinical perspectives, biological insights and treatment modalities. J Blood Med. 2018;9:171-184. doi:10.2147/JBM.S176144 Denic S, Narchi H, Al Mekaini LA, Al-Hammadi S, Al Jabri ON, Souid AK. Prevalence of neutropenia in children by nationality. BMC Hematol. 2016;16(1):15. doi:10.1186%2Fs12878-016-0054-8 UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Blood Disorders: Neutropenia. Farruggia P, Dufour C. Diagnosis and management of primary autoimmune neutropenia in children: insights for clinicians. Ther Adv Hematol. 2015;6(1):15-24. doi:10.1177/2040620714556642 Dale D, Bolyard A. An update on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic idiopathic neutropenia. Curr Opin Hematol. 2017;24(1):46-53. doi:10.1097/MOH.0000000000000305 Ozdemir ZC, Kar YD, Kasaci B, Bor O. Etiological causes and prognosis in children with neutropenia. North Clin Istanb. 202124;8(3):236-242. doi:10.14744/nci.2020.65624 Lustberg MB. Management of neutropenia in cancer patients. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2012;10(12):825-826. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Severe Chronic Neutropenia. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Neutropenic Diet. Additional Reading Coates TD. Immune neutropenia. In UpToDate, Post TW (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA. By Amber Yates, MD Amber Yates, MD, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist and a practicing physician at Baylor College of Medicine. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit