Neutropenia in Childhood—A Narrative Review and Practical Diagnostic Approach

Abstract

Neutropenia refers to a decrease in the absolute neutrophil count according to age and race norms and poses a common concern in pediatric practice. Neutrophils serve as host defenders and act crucially in acute inflammation procedures. In this narrative review, we systematically present causes of neutropenia in childhood, mainly adopting the pathophysiological classification of Frater, thereby studying (1) neutropenia with reduced bone marrow reserve, (2) secondary neutropenia with reduced bone marrow reserve, and (3) neutropenia with normal bone marrow reserve. Different conditions in each category are thoroughly discussed and practically approached from the clinician’s point of view. Secondary mild to moderate neutropenia is usually benign due to childhood viral infections and is expected to resolve in 2–4 weeks. Bacterial and fungal agents are also associated with transient neutropenia, although fever with severe neutropenia constitutes a medical emergency. Drug-induced and immune neutropenias should be suspected following a careful history and a detailed clinical examination. Cytotoxic chemotherapies treating malignancies are responsible for severe neutropenia and neutropenic shock. Rare genetic neutropenias usually manifest with major infections early in life. Our review of taxonomies clinical findings and associates them to specific neutropenia disorders. We consequently propose a practical diagnostic algorithm for managing neutropenic children.