Neutropenia is a blood disorder characterized by an unnaturally low level of neutrophils. The latter are one of the most common types of white blood cells and they play a vital role in a person's ability to fight off infections, especially those that are bacterial in nature. Adults should have a minimum of 1500 neutrophils in each microliter of blood. Levels running lower than this may indicate the presence of neutropenia. For youngsters, the parameters for the disease vary with age.Some individuals have lower than average neutrophil counts throughout their entire life; however, they never experience an increased risk of bacterial infections and their condition never becomes a cause for serious concern. Nevertheless, anyone with a neutrophil count of less than 500 neutrophils per microliter is usually diagnosed with neutropenia and monitored for complications. In such individuals, even normal bacteria from the digestive tract or mouth can lead to serious or even life-threatening infections.
