Can a low neutrophil count cause joint pain and fatigue?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 24-year-old female. I have done my blood work, and the neutrophil count is very low, 0.6 from normal to 0.6 in a matter of weeks, and I do not understand why. Other symptoms I am having are low-grade fever, joint pain (knees, hips, and shoulders), extreme fatigue, and spasms in my legs. All of these symptoms come and go, and not always all together. But I have periods where I feel good and manage to work out and do things I usually do, and other periods where I am so tired and cannot do anything.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your concerns are valid. The symptoms could be due to a condition called neutropenia (low neutrophil counts). It is generally seen in conditions like viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections. Examples include HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), tuberculosis, malaria, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), vitamin deficiencies (megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency), congenital (inborn) disorders of bone marrow function or neutrophil production (Kostmann syndrome), and hypersplenism, which refers to the increased sequestration or destruction of blood cells by the spleen. All these are common causes that have to be ruled out to treat the cause.

I hope you can find a doctor and start treating the cause of neutropenia. Medical management would differ for each of them, so it is important to find the cause; we may require a more in-depth blood workup, which can only be done at the doctor's office.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.