Which symptoms may indicate a Clozaril-induced infection?

• A. Sore throats, sores in mouth/gums, fever
• B. Headache and dizziness
• C. Rash and itching
• D. Cough and chest pain

Answer: (A)

Clozapine carries a real risk of neutropenia and agranulocytosis, which makes infections especially dangerous. When neutrophils are low, the body’s defenses in the mouth and throat are compromised, so signs like sore throat and sores in the mouth or gums can emerge quickly and signal an underlying infection. Fever is a key systemic sign that an infection is present. Together, these symptoms point to a neutropenia-associated infection and require prompt evaluation, blood count monitoring, and often halting clozapine until the neutrophil count is verified and infection ruled out or treated.

Headache and dizziness, while they can occur with clozapine, are not specific indicators of infection. Rash and itching can reflect hypersensitivity or other side effects, not necessarily an infection related to neutropenia. Cough and chest pain might indicate a respiratory issue, but they don’t specifically highlight the neutropenia-related infection risk that fever plus mucosal symptoms do.