Neutropenia

Neutropenia is a disease that is caused due to a significant reduction in the levels of neutrophils in the body. Neutrophil is a white blood cell that can be considered as the first defense line against bacterial infection. With a decrease in neutrophils, the person can be prone to bacterial infection. Here in this article, we are going to discuss what is neutropenia and how does it happen. 

Neutrophils are basically created in the bone marrow of a person. These cells are pretty much short-lived and they have an extensive way of traveling throughout the entire body. These cells are able to enter the tissues inside a person while others cannot. Cancer patients are the ones that mostly develop neutropenia. 

What is Neutropenia and How is it Caused? 

Neutropenia is particularly a condition that can be caused due to a decrease in the neutrophils produced by the body. These neutrophils are white blood cells that are also known as PMNs or polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 

Certain white blood cells, which are known as granulocytes, tend to be filled with microscopic granules. These are small sacs that contain enzymes (compounds responsible for the digestion of microorganisms). Neutrophils are granulocytes and tend to be a part of the entire innate immune system and have somewhat nonspecific and broad-based activity. This portion of the article will help people understand what neutropenia is and how it is caused.

Neutrophils are filled with enzymes that facilitate the killing and digestion of the microorganisms in the cell. With the decreased amount of neutrophils, one might have neutropenia. This will ensure that the body of the person is prone to infections caused due to bacteria. 

Several Signs and Symptoms of Neutropenia 

If a person has neutropenia, there are some signs as well as symptoms that are indicators of the disease. Here we are going to include those reasons for a better understanding of the people. This way, you will be able to know what is neutropenia and how does it happen. Some common signs of the disease include:

• Skin abscesses

• Low-grade fever

• Swollen gums 

• Mouth sores 

• Skin infections or infections in the mouth and perirectal areas of the body 

• Pneumonia is one of the infections that can occur in the lungs of a person that is suffering from neutropenia.  

Causes of Neutropenia

It is quite possible for neutropenia to be present in normal and healthy individuals. However, the cases are not that common. Neutropenia might arise due to decreased production of the cells known as neutrophils. In some cases, the significant destruction of these white cells after the production of these can cause the disease as well. In some cases, the pooling of the neutrophils in the body of the person can cause neutropenia as well. There are some instances where the accumulation of the neutrophils in the body that goes out of the circulation limit can be the reason for the problem in people. 

There are some medical conditions that can be attributed as the cause for the problem in the people. 

• Some infections such as viral infections, parasitic infections, and bacterial infections can be the cause of the disease. Some of the examples of these diseases include tuberculosis, HIV, Malaria, and others. 

• Some of the medications that are responsible for the damaging of the neutrophils or the bone marrow of the person might be counted as one of the causes of neutropenia. 

• In some cases, the Vitamin deficiencies in the body of people are also the reason for the disease. A case of megaloblastic anemia that happens because of the decrease in vitamin B12 or folate is also another one of the causes. 

• Some of the diseases that occur in the bone marrow of people such as myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, and leukemia are also one of the reasons the disease occurs in people. 

So, these are some of the causes for the disease that happens in people. In case someone is seeing the symptoms of the disease, it is advised that they need to see the doctor in order to get a proper diagnosis as well. 

Do the Types of Neutropenia Cause the Person to Have Bacterial Infections? 

Neutropenia can result in a very high risk of bacterial infections in the body of people. The risk degree tends to depend properly on the cause as well as the severity of the case. Not to mention that one needs to have a look at the medical condition of the person having neutropenia. The absence, as well as the presence of the bone marrow in the person, is also a factor to consider. We say this because the bone marrow in the body of a person is the exact location where the neutrophils are produced in a good quantity. 

Some of the most common types of neutropenia related infections that are seen in the patients are basically caused due to the bacterial growth that is eventually found in their skin. The patients that have a low count of low blood cells are the ones that are most prone to these types of infections for sure. There are also certain cases when the patients with fungal infections were also seen to be prone to neutropenia. This is really relevant because infections are common for people who have low levels of neutrophils in the body. It is seen that infections might just be limited to some of the locations in the body. Most infections are seen in the genital areas, oral cavities, and the skin of people. There are certain instances when the bloodstream that connects to the organs and the lungs is prolonged with neutropenia. 

How Can Neutropenia be Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of neutropenia is done through a test of the blood cell count. The person who is showing symptoms of neutropenia will be asked to provide a sample of their blood from any vein. The blood will be then analyzed in order to find out the count of the blood cells. This way, the doctor will be able to find out the levels of the neutrophils that are present in the blood of the person. In order to know the specific and certain cause of the disease in a particular situation, there are some other tests that are required. In certain cases, a biopsy of the bone marrow is one of the ways to diagnose the disease in a patient. The diagnosis is done by a technician or a doctor in order to find out the root cause of the disease in a proper and efficient manner. After neutropenia has been diagnosed, the patient will be asked to undergo the required treatment in order to control the condition and increase the levels of the white blood cells in their bodies. 

What is the Treatment of Neutropenia? 

Before providing proper treatment of neutropenia, it is important to analyze the severity of the case. Also, the doctor needs to know the underlying cause of the disease as well. The doctor also needs to find out whether there are any additional symptoms or infections that are present in the body of the patient. It can be said that the overall medical health status of a patient needs to be properly analyzed before the treatment is started. The treatment targets the underlying process of the disease and attempts to increase the production of neutrophils in the patient. 

• Antifungal medications along with antibiotics are provided for fighting infections. 

• Growth factors that influence the white blood cells are administered in the body. 

• Granulocyte transfusions are also a method of treating the disease. 

• There are some preventative measures such as corticosteroid therapy that are taken by the doctors for proper treatment. 

With the help of these steps, the treatment of neutropenia is possible with ease.