Transient and chronic neutropenias detected in children with different viral and bacterial infections.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to identify the relationship of acquired neutropenias with infections in childhood and to assess their course, complications, short and long-term outcome.


METHODS
During a two-year period, all children admitted to the pediatric ward with neutropenia were investigated for underlying infections with indices of infection, cultures of body fluids and serological tests.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven previously healthy children, aged (median, 25-75%) 0.7 years (0.2-1.5), were identified with neutropenia (frequency: 2.0%). An infectious agent was identified in 34/67 cases (50.7%) (viral infection: n=24, bacterial: n=10). In 50/67 (74.6%) children, neutropenia recovered within 2 months (transient neutropenia, TN), while in 17/67 (25.4%) of them it persisted for more than two months. Two years after diagnosis 50/67 children (74.6%) accepted to be reassessed. Of these children, 8/50 (16%) remained neutropenic (neutropenic children, NC), while 42/50 had recovered completely.


CONCLUSIONS
Neutropenia during childhood is usually transient, often following viral and common bacterial infections, does not present serious complications and in the majority, it resolves spontaneously. However, in a significant percentage of patients, neutropenia is discovered during the course of an infection, on a ground of a preceding chronic neutropenic status.
Karavanaki
Kyriaki
K
2nd Pediatric Department, Aghia Sopia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. ekaranas@otenet.gr
Polychronopoulou
Sophia
S
Giannaki
Maria
M
Haliotis
Fotis
F
Sider
Bettiina
B
Brisimitzi
Maria
M
Dimitriou
C
C
Scordias
G
G
Marangou
F
F
Stamatiadou
A
A
Avlonitis
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis