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What Causes Low Blood Platelet Count?
Question: My son has a bacterial infection and they have also discovered that his platelet count is low . He has his platelets check 6 months ago and they were fine . Why would he have a low platelet count ?
Brief Answer:
Any infection can lower the platelet count
Detailed Answer:
Hi...any infection can lower the platelet count and it is not unusual. We need to work up for low platelet counts if the count is still low even after the kid has come out of the infection and is well.
I have a few questions for you -
1. Does he bleed a lot for small injuries also?
2. At any time while a vaccination is being given did he have unusually prolonged bleeding?
3. What was his platelet count during the time of infection and what is it now?
4. Does any blood relatives have any bleeding disorders or bleeding tendency?
5. Does have any skin bleeds or joint bleeds or patchy discoloration of the skin?
Kindly get back to me with answers and then I will be glad to guide you further.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Any infection can lower the platelet count
Detailed Answer:
Hi...any infection can lower the platelet count and it is not unusual. We need to work up for low platelet counts if the count is still low even after the kid has come out of the infection and is well.
I have a few questions for you -
1. Does he bleed a lot for small injuries also?
2. At any time while a vaccination is being given did he have unusually prolonged bleeding?
3. What was his platelet count during the time of infection and what is it now?
4. Does any blood relatives have any bleeding disorders or bleeding tendency?
5. Does have any skin bleeds or joint bleeds or patchy discoloration of the skin?
Kindly get back to me with answers and then I will be glad to guide you further.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi yes he gets lots of nose bleeds and he gets brushing from injections . He was rushed to hospital on Monday with extremely high temp they thought he has meningitis but they said it was uti then it went to blood so his blood had the infection in it . The playlets were chexked on the Monday then again on Thursday and they were lower on Thursday than on Monday . He is still having antis through the drip . No on that I no of in family has blood problems
Brief Answer:
He needs evaluatoin for bleeding disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I have gone through your answers in detail. I feel that your kid requires evaluation for bleeding disorder.
Possibilities could be -
1. Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura - any viral illness might have triggered it 6 months back and it might have been going on chronically.
2. Clotting factor deficiency.
I suggest you do these and consult a pediatric hematologist -
1. CBC - complete blood picture.
2. Platelet aggregation tests.
3. Bone marrow aspiration and look for megakaryocytic response.
4. Anti-platelet antibodies.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
He needs evaluatoin for bleeding disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I have gone through your answers in detail. I feel that your kid requires evaluation for bleeding disorder.
Possibilities could be -
1. Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura - any viral illness might have triggered it 6 months back and it might have been going on chronically.
2. Clotting factor deficiency.
I suggest you do these and consult a pediatric hematologist -
1. CBC - complete blood picture.
2. Platelet aggregation tests.
3. Bone marrow aspiration and look for megakaryocytic response.
4. Anti-platelet antibodies.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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