Background: Acquired neutropenia in immunocompetent children is common in pediatric practice and its differential diagnosis ranges from transient benign causes to life-threatening diseases.
Objectives: To describe, in a retrospective study, the etiology, clinical picture and outcome of unsuspected neutropenia in immunocompetent children assessed in the ED of the Soroka University Medical Center.
Patients and methods: Previously healthy children 9/l) were included. Serious bacterial infections (SBI) was defined as growth of a bacterial pathogen from culture of blood, urine, CSF, articular fluid or stool.
Results: 601 patients were enrolled; 3 (0.5%), 48 (8%), 165 (27.5%) and 385 (64%) had ANCs <200, 201-500, 501-1000 and 1001-1500/109/l, respectively. Associated leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were diagnosed in 186 (39%) and 71 (11.8%) patients. 316/601 (52.6%) and 519/601 (86.4%) were
Conclusions: 1. Severe neutropenia was rare; 2. More than half of the patients were infants Brucella spp. and rickettsial infections are frequent etiologies associated with neutropenia.
