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Are Typhoid Fever And Low Blood Platelet Count In A 3 Year Old A Cause For Concern?

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Posted on Fri, 28 Aug 2015
Question: A three year old child inmy adopted family in the Philippines is in hospital with Typhoid and low blood platelet count of around 42000
What danger do u think she isin at present
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Needs care and monitoring and work up to rule out other possibilities.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and i understand your concern. With enteric fever / Typhoid i have rarely seen reducing platelets . Although 42 thousand is safer level and there is no bleeding risk at these levels but still lower than normal.

For enteric fever the child needs antibiotics. Combination or ceftriaxone and azithromycin is the usual recommended dose in combination to treat enterix fever.

As far as platelets are concerned i would recommend an infusion of platelet concentrate and a little work up like peripheral smear of the blood. malarial parasite load, a prophylaxis of antimalarials with artesunate and some other baseline work up.

She is not in imminent danger but she needs monitoring and workup to rule out any associated illness. My money is on malaria.

I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.

Regards
Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3613 Questions

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Are Typhoid Fever And Low Blood Platelet Count In A 3 Year Old A Cause For Concern?

Brief Answer: Needs care and monitoring and work up to rule out other possibilities. Detailed Answer: Thank you for asking I read your question and i understand your concern. With enteric fever / Typhoid i have rarely seen reducing platelets . Although 42 thousand is safer level and there is no bleeding risk at these levels but still lower than normal. For enteric fever the child needs antibiotics. Combination or ceftriaxone and azithromycin is the usual recommended dose in combination to treat enterix fever. As far as platelets are concerned i would recommend an infusion of platelet concentrate and a little work up like peripheral smear of the blood. malarial parasite load, a prophylaxis of antimalarials with artesunate and some other baseline work up. She is not in imminent danger but she needs monitoring and workup to rule out any associated illness. My money is on malaria. I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please. Regards Khan