Neutrophils

Overview

A neutrophil is a type of white blood cell, one of the chief cells that fight infection. Neutrophils are made in the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream wherever they are needed.

Normally, a serious bacterial infection causes the body to produce an increased number of neutrophils, resulting in a higher than normal white blood cell count (WBC). But, if there is a disorder in the neutrophil – in their makeup or number – they can’t do their job. Neutrophil disorders include neutropenia, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome and cyclic neutropenia.

Neutrophil disorders: Neutropenia

Neutropenia is an abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood. In babies, the most common cause of neutropenia is infection. Low levels of neutrophils occur when the bone marrow can not replace them as fast as they are being used. A complete blood count (CBC) of a lab sample can determine how many and what types of red cells and white cells are in the blood.