A 5-year-old girl has a high fever and cough. The girl's mother informs you that her daughter has leukemia and finished her most recent round of chemotherapy two days ago. She states that the girl is neutropenic. You recognize that:

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Neutropenia is a serious condition in which there is a very low level of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that fights infection) in the blood. This puts the patient at a high risk for infections, which can quickly progress to sepsis if not treated promptly. Neutropenic fevers can be caused by a variety of infections, not just pneumonia. A high fever and cough in a neutropenic patient should always be taken very seriously and prompt medical attention should be sought. Albuterol is not indicated for the treatment of neutropenic cough.

A 5-Year-Old Girl Has a High Fever and Cough