Home Management

A parent should call the doctor if the child has any symptoms that are out of the ordinary, including (but not limited) to:

• Any fever of 101°F or higher
• Any signs of a flu or cold
• Shortness of breath
• Severe diarrhea
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Trouble urinating

Home Management for Preventing Infection

Tracking Neutrophils. Parents should track their child's absolute neutrophil count. This the measurement for the amount of white blood cells, and is an important gauge of a child's ability to fight infection.

• Counts over 1,000 usually provide sufficient protection so that children can engage in normal activities, including school and other functions where they are exposed to other children.
• If the count is between 500 and 1000, the child should avoid large groups.
• If it falls between 200 and 500 the child should stay at home and should see only healthy visitors who have washed their hands vigorously.
• Neutrophil counts below 200 indicate that the child is at high risk for infection and should have no visitors.

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Maintaining Strict Hygiene. Children with ALL and anyone exposed to them, not only friends and family members but also doctors and nurses, should maintain strict hygiene:

• Frequent hand washing with antibacterial soap is particularly essential.
• Everyone should wash their hands before and after meals, after being outside, before preparing food, and after going to the bathroom.
• When visiting the doctor, a parent should ask about a side entrance or areas where the patient will not be exposed to other sick children.