Febrile Neutropenia

Febrile Neutropenia General Information

When a patient complains of severe fever and presents significantly low numbers of neutrophils (types of cells that are part of the white blood cells), he is probably suffering from Febrile Neutropenia. The neutrophils are actually the types of white cells found in the individual’s blood that help the body fight against almost all forms of infection. The immune system of a person who suffers from Febrile Neutropenia is seriously damaged. It is said that these types of patients are immuno-compromised. If they develop this medical condition, serious problems can occur if the proper treatment is not applied in time (it is known that having very few neutrophils means that the respective person is at high risk of getting infected). They are prone usually to infections of any kind: fungal, bacterial or viral that can determine medical emergencies. Because the bone marrow (the place where all types of blood cells form) is suppressed, the cells that fight against foreign organisms that enter the body are under the normal healthy values. These microorganisms that get in the human body attack any organ, such as skin, intestines, lungs, kidneys or brain. If the reduction in the white blood cells is significant (less than 1,0x109/L neutrophils) and is accompanied by persistent fever that lasts three or four days with temperature of the body that goes over 37oC then the patient is probably affected by Febrile Neutropenia. This medical condition is an alarming one because it appears as a complication of immune suppressions in the cases of chemotherapy or organ transplants.

Febrile Neutropenia Symptoms

Anyone can be affected by Febrile Neutropenia, but more sensitive to it are those persons who follow a treatment for cancer that involves chemotherapy sessions. Because this medical condition is basically a blood disorder, many patients are actually born with it. In some rarer cases, it appears without a certain reason. The main signs and symptoms of this disease called Febrile Neutropenia are determined by the low numbers of neutrophils (a type of white blood cells) that have an important role in the immune system of a person (as they are supposed to fight against any dangerous microorganisms that enter the body and provoke different infections). The signs and symptoms specific for this disease are really mild but they aggravate if a proper treatment is not applied in time. The manifestations of this medical condition are very frequent and the most common ones are: fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, shaking skills, unusual redness, swellings and pain around a wound, mouth ulcers, sensations of burning every time when the patient urinates and severe anemia. Unfortunately, infections that for some healthy individuals seem common and very easily treatable, for a person suffering from this health disorder, they can rapidly and unexpectedly turn into something more serious and life-threatening. This is why, discovering and treating the disease in time may save the patient’s life. All these signs and symptoms usually appear after some very clear causes, for example: very low production in the bone marrow, triggered by cancer, hereditary disorders, certain medications, or radiation, folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, aplastic anemia, chemotherapy and hemodialysis.

Febrile Neutropenia Treatment

As we mentioned above, Febrile Neutropenia is a medical condition that requires a prompt and proper treatment applied in time. If it is left untreated, this simple and common blood disorder may become fatal for the patient (in a matter of a few hours). All patients who have cancer should be aware of this complication that is considered to be a medical emergency that needs immediate intervention. The high fever that occurs in patients suffering from Febrile Neutropenia usually indicates that an occult bacterial or viral infection has seriously damaged the patient’s organism. Any temperature of the body that goes over 37C should be reported as soon as possible to an oncologist because it is well known that hours, even minutes are critical when dealing with this medical condition. Dealing with Febrile Neutropenia involves careful treatment and assessment. The earlier a therapy is started, the bigger the chances for the respective patient to recover after the febrile manifestations.

This disease is easy to treat only in the case that the therapy was not delayed. The hospitalization must be done immediately in the case of individual who presents Febrile Neutropenia. Only in a specialized medical center and under the surveillance of health care providers and nurses the person can recover and avoid major complications. In immuno-compromised patients, in those patients who have cancer or who currently undergo chemotherapy sessions, the rapid progression of the infections must be stopped in time. This is generally accomplished with an early therapy based on antibiotics. These drugs are given even in the cases when the exact location of the infection is not known mainly because when dealing with this disease, the time is an important factor. The risks appear when the health care provider must decide whether to prescribe the antibiotics orally or IV (intravenously). The broad spectrum antibiotics used can be Aminoglycoside or Cephalosporin that can deal with all groups of bacteria. If Febrile Neutropenia is in the latter stages, the antibiotics must be given intravenously. Some examples of efficient medicines are: Tobramycin, Amikacin, Fortaz, Primaxin, Vancomycin, Timentin and Cipro. The therapy with antibiotics is also known under the name of empiric therapy as it is always preferred when the microorganisms responsible with the infections could not be detected. If two days pass without the fever coming down although the administration of antibiotics was regular, then the patient must be urgently re-examined. More detailed lab investigations must be undergone. The treatment must be revised. If a week has gone and the fever still persists, then the health care provider will apply an antifungal treatment and the main drug of choice will be Amphotericin B prescribed as Fungizon. Other antifungal medicines preferred by the doctors are: Diflucan and abelcet prescribed as Lisosomal Amphotericin. The recommended dosage is from two to five milligrams. The medical professional may also try to deal with this medical condition by giving the patient medications that help in the process of producing white blood cells, process that is stimulated with drugs as Leukine and Neupogen.