1 Yr Old with Posible Neutropenia

Hi K.,
I posted just this past week about my son with High Platelet levels. Not that I have much to offer in terms of advice, but rather support...
We've been to a cardiologist and are seeing a hematologist soon ourselves. Don't know about you, but my anxiety level is through the roof! Our ped has offered ideas about what we might be looking for and none is very reassuring. I can't help but look at my little guy and think about how remarkably healthy his first year has been.... I'll be keeping you in my thoughts as we also go through a similar situation. Please follow-up with how you make out at the Hematologist. We'll be at Hasbro, not Children's. Good Luck! I'm 30, first time mom as well, also married 4 years...
J.

I don't know much about Neutropenia in young children, but my sister has Neutropenia. She was diagnosed as a teenager (& now is turning 40 this year). She does get sick more often than some other people, but not drastically. I can't say it really affects her life much. She goes for blood work and watches her levels of neutrofils regularly. Anyway, the most important thing is to find doctors who understand the condition and have experience with Neutropenia. I'm sure you'll find some very special doctors at Children's Hospital.

Hello K.,

I hope I can help you a little by letting you know that my - now 5 year old - son had the same condition when he was 7 months old. It was called "temporary neutropenia" and it just dissapeared as fast as it started - just like yours, out of the blue... the hematologists at Childrens Hospital are great and they are taking blood from babies amazingly well!

Good luck - and don`t worry too much about that!!

A.

I am 30 years old and have experienced a little of what you are going through, but with myself not my son.
I have had eczema since I was about 11 years old & it would never clear up completely even if it got better. About 8 years ago I went to my doctor for a normal yearly check up with all blood work done (routine). My white blood cell count came back lower than they'd like & they asked me if I had been sick or anything. I said no but I have eczema all the time & even if it gets better it never clears 100%. I do also seem to "catch" colds and what not more than the average person. So they said because of the eczema break out my immune system is probably low which caused the low white cell count and several colds a year. I have been fine ever since, but still have an occasional low white blood cell count. But myself nor the doctors are worried. So hopefully I have made you feel a little better. Even though it is more emotional for you to see your child go through something like this than it is an adult. But I never felt sick or anything due to the low count (except when I did eventually catch a cold or something). So if your child has a rash or is a little under the weather that could also be the reason.
Good luck and I am sure your daughter will be just fine. I will pray about her though.

My son, now 6, was hospitalized the day after Christmas when he was 14 months old for neutropenia. He was only in the hospital (Mass General) for a few days in isolation & when he was released we had to spend 6 weeks or so at home until his neutrophils returned to a normal range, he was not allowed to be exposed to too many people (just immediate family). His doctors believed it was caused by a virus - the only symptom (the reason they did blood work) was a high fever. My son is very healthy, has always been so - with the exception of this strange episode of neutropenia. It was stressful & scary, as it always is when a child is sick, but his neutropenia disappeared as quickly as it appeared. I hope your daughter is fine and her neutropenia resolves itself quickly. Best of luck!

I am currently going through this with my baby girl how was diagnosed with neutropenia since 15 months old.... She is now 18 months and I have had her blood tested 10 times already in the past 2 months. She also has eczema and food allergies. She's been having fevers as well and a seizure a month ago. Her last blood test is showing the neutrophils still being very low. She's going to have another blood test again next week. I'm not sure what to do anymore. Next the doctors said, we can have her get a bone marrow test.