Platelets, also known by the name of thrombocytes, play an indispensable role in the blood coagulation procedure. This is why it is extremely important that you have the correct platelet values in your blood, since if you have a higher number, it means that you are more prone to the formation of clots, which are dangerous to your health. On the other hand, if your platelet count is lower than normal, you are at a much higher risk of internal bleeding.
It is considered that you can suffer from thrombocytosis when the thrombocytes are 600,000 or 1,000,000 or more, while it is called thrombocytopenia when your blood platelet values are less than 150,000 mm3. If your child has altered normal blood platelet values, at FastlyHealwe want to explain the causes, symptoms and treatment of low platelets in children .
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Causes of low platelets in children
If your child has low platelets, it may mean that he is going through some disease or that his body is not working properly. For example, your bone marrow may be making fewer platelets due to a disease in the bone marrow, such as myelodysplastic syndrome , an infection, a bone marrow disorder, your child has aplastic anemia, or a high diet. vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.
On the other hand, your body could be breaking down your platelets and, in this way, significantly reducing their amount due to disorders such as inflammation of the liver . In addition, this may be due to a disorder such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, known by the syllables PTI, which is a bleeding disorder and markedly reduces your platelets in the blood because the immune system destroys them.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura can also be a cause of low thrombocytes in your child’s body, as blood clots may form in small blood vessels in this condition. This could be due to a problem with one of your enzyme that is involved in blood clotting.
Main symptoms of low platelets in children
The main symptom that you can observe if your child suffers from thrombocytopenia is that he begins to bleed from different areas , specifically from the mouth, nose and gums, for no apparent reason. Another very common symptom is that you have bruises on various parts of the body and a special skin rash appears, called petechiae, which are small red spots.
However, if your child’s low blood platelet count is associated with other disorders and symptoms such as strong symptoms appear in the body, head and eyes, it may be an infectious disease such as dengue. So it is essential that you are always alert to the symptoms that your child presents and take him to the doctor before any alteration that his body presents. In this article you can consult the symptoms of dengue .
Treatment to normalize low thrombocytes
There is no specific treatment for thrombocytopenia. This will be limited to looking for the cause of the disorder to eliminate the problem, in this way, the amount of platelets in your child’s blood will return to normal.
That is, if the cause of the child having a lower amount of thrombocytes in the blood is a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid, the treatment will be to change your child’s diet by eating foods that help increase the number of existing platelets in the bloodstream. On the other hand, if it is a bone marrow disease, the treatment prescribed by the doctor will be aimed at curing the disease at the same time that the child’s blood platelet count rises.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Low platelets in children: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart and circulation .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.