28 yr old /f with nuetropenia

[christie0781]

I am a 28 yr old female, I was just in the er with a fever(around 100) and a severe headache. While I was there Theu foung out that I had a UTI, and that I had low wbc's (which was called nuetropenia on the discharge paperwork). I just had a baby 8 mo ago and I know my blookwork was normal then. I have also had a load of stress, I lost my father suddenly 3 months ago, I go to school full time, and have two little ones. I am generally a very worried person....and I know I have a poor diet. That being said when the (not so compasionate) er doctor told me to follow up with a general practice to get my cbc's rechecked in a week to rule out  luekemia.....I was a bit almarmed to say the least.well that was a day 1/2 ago, and with the antibiotics I have received, tonight I fell 100 percent better. Should I be worried about this nuetropenia? (I don't have the exact numbers, should have thought to ask for them)

[christie0781]

Thank you, I don't know why some doctors don't think before they throw words like leukemia around(especially after no further testing, and not ruling anything out first), us lay people get scared! I am very relieved, and from what this very helpful informational doctor told me, my 2.2 in the first place was low indeed, but not THAT low. Hopefully when I go back in a week everything will be back to normal:-)

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

I am so glad its fine. Even this was my first thought, that it was an initial neutropenia of infection. Cheers!

[christie0781]

I just went to have a repeat cbc and it was a 3.2, up from a 2.2 (thats what it was in the ER). This doctor said that judging by my mono and lymphoctyes it looks to be viral, and she couldn't believe the original doctor even mentioned leukemia to me!

[christie0781]

Thank you, from what this doctor said, my count was very low, I wish I would have thought to get the exact numbers, but I was so sick. My temp is normal now, although I have a little bit of a headache still. From what I read, leukemia presents with a very high wbc count? I am still wondering why he thought to mention that to me at all...

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
I am so sorry to hear about your father’s demise. Actually on the first day of fever and even for a day or two, initially when there is an infection, there is slight neutropenia. Then the body fights the infection and the neutrophils rise and by day five of fever most blood pictures will show increased neutrophil count. Other than that it could be due to Vit B12 or folate deficiency or due to viral infection. Blood cancers either result in very low or very high counts. So do not freak out. Wait for a week, after you are well and repeat the test. In all probability the counts will come back to normal.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!