[Neutropenia in children]

Neutropenia in children is defined as decrease in absolute number of neutrophils to 1x 10(9)/l. This condition is common, its course is mild and usually transient, though persistent, severe, chronic forms also encounter in clinical practice. In such cases the prognosis is not always favorable. Causes of neutropenia could not always be identified. In the most cases it is caused by infection (bacterial, viral, etc), consumption of drugs, nutrient deficiency and others. There are also hereditary and congenital forms. Neutropenia in childhood is mostly met during the first 24 months of life and has specific clinical manifestations; therefore it is challenging to make a diagnosis. The presented work describes findings of observation over three pediatric patients, in whom persistent, severe neutropenia was manifested up to one year of age. Based on case history, clinical and para-clinical data analysis and catamnestic observation benign chronic neutropenia was diagnosed in two cases and primary autoimmune neutropenia - in one. The observation is in progress.