The most common febrile neutropenia treatment involves the administration of so-called broad spectrum or empirical antibiotics as a means of suppressing systemic infection. Typically, this treatment is given on an inpatient basis through intravenous (IV) administration with the addition of other appropriate supportive therapies, such as IV fluids and oxygen. An individual with this condition could also be given an injection or IV infusion of a drug such as filgastrim to boost the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream. The need for febrile neutropenia treatment is considered to be a medical emergency, particularly in the case of individuals who have been receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment. This condition has a high mortality rate when not treated promptly.
Febrile neutropenia treatment begins immediately after the condition is flagged by the development of a fever in someone with a lowered count of white blood cells due to chemotherapy. The type of antibiotic that will be administered depends on certain risk factors in the individual's medical history. Some cases will receive ciproflaxin or another oral antibiotic, while more severe situations are typically treated with a cephalosporin or carbapenem drug.
Anti-fever medications could also be administered after the infection has been addressed with an initial antibiotic dose. After the individual is discharged from inpatient care, an oral dose of the antibiotic is often continued at home for several days. In some low-risk cases, the initial antibiotic therapy for febrile neutropenia treatment can be given orally rather than intravenously.
Individuals being treated with chemotherapy should alert their physicians immediately if experiencing any signs of febrile neutropenia. The primary initial symptom is a fever that rises above 100.5 degrees F (38 degrees C). Fever of this kind might also be accompanied by other signs of infection such as chills, swelling, sores in the mouth, or phlegm. Typically, people in chemotherapy treatment are instructed to monitor their body temperatures any time they feel unusually warm.
Neutropenia is the medical label for a serious condition in which an individual's white blood cell count is abnormally low, sometimes as a side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Extreme cases with advanced symptoms might be referred to as neutropenic sepsis. Febrile neutropenia describes the presence of a fever concurrent with low blood count, which can indicate system infection. Without febrile neutropenia treatment, this condition can lead to life-threatening complications, including cardiac problems, bleeding, a drop in blood pressure, and respiratory or renal failure.
