We are currently looking for oncology pharmacists to join our team! If you are interested in joining ChemoExperts, please click here. Not interested? Hide this message.

Neutropenic Fever

Neutropenia is when you have a low number of infection fighting cells in your blood called neutrophils.

A fever is when someone has a single temperature of 101°F or higher or a temperature of at least 100.4°F that does not go away after one hour. When someone develops a fever at the same time they have low neutrophils, they are considered to have a "neutropenic fever." This is also sometimes called "febrile neutropenia."

Unless told otherwise by their doctor, someone with neutropenic fever should get to the emergency room IMMEDIATELY! Do NOT wait! Without proper treatment, neutropenic fever can cause life-threatening symptoms within a matter of hours. Fever may be one of the only signs of infection, therefore it is very important that you have a thermometer if you are receiving chemotherapy.

NOTE: Treatment Options listed below are not all-inclusive. Other treatments may be available. ChemoExperts provides drug information and does not recommend any one treatment over another. Only your Doctor can choose which therapy is appropriate for you.

Treatment Options

References

1. Alp S, Alkova M. Management of febrile neutropenia in the era of bacterial resistance. There Adv Infect Dis. 2013;1:37-43.

2. Villafuerte-Gutierrez P, Villalon L, Losa JE, Henriquez-Camacho C. Treatment of Febrile Neutropenia and Prophylaxis in Hematologic Malignancies: A Critical Review and Update. Advances in Hematology. 2014;2014:986938.

Created: December 15, 2015 Updated: April 28, 2019