Neutropenia (noo-trot-pee-nee-uh) means that the body has very few neutrophils, a type of white blood cells. All white blood cells help the body fight infections. But neutrophils are important to combat certain infections, especially those caused by bacteria.

If you have neutropenia, it is likely that you do not know depending on any symptoms. People often discover that they have neutropenia when blood tests have been done for other reasons.

A single blood test that shows low levels of neutrophils does not mean that it has neutropenia safely. These levels can vary from day to day. So, if a blood test shows that it has low levels, the test must be repeated. The repeated test can confirm if it has neutropenia.

Neutropenia can increase its risk of infections. When neutrophil levels are very low, even the common bacteria of the mouth and the digestive tract can cause serious diseases.

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