Elevated platelet count in a child’s blood

Blood tests are important for assessing the health of children, so their change is always alarming for adults - both mothers and doctors. If parents see in the results of a high content of platelets in the blood of a child, they are always interested in whether it is dangerous for a daughter or son. For timely help, your baby needs to find out why platelets can be above the norm and what to do with an elevated rate.

Platelets are called small blood cells without nuclei, the second name of which is "blood plates." They are important for blood clotting, in particular, for the formation of blood clots, to close the damage to the vessel and stop the bleeding. Such cells are formed in the red bone marrow, live up to ten days, after which they are destroyed in the spleen.

A slight excess is not considered dangerous by doctors, but if the number of platelets exceeded the norm by 20-30 x 109 / l or more, this condition is called thrombocytosis or thrombocythemia.

Depending on the provoking factor, thrombocytosis is divided into:

1. Primary. Its appearance is due to impaired blood platelet formation in the bone marrow, for example, due to a tumor process.
2. Secondary. Such an increase in platelets develops due to a disease that does not affect the bone marrow. However, it is only one of the symptoms of the disease.

The causes of secondary thrombocytosis include:

• Surgery to remove the spleen. Increased platelets after such an intervention is associated with a slowdown in their decay. In addition, normally the spleen produces compounds that inhibit the synthesis of platelets, and after removal they cease to restrain their production.
• Acute inflammation, for example, with bacterial or viral infections, rheumatism, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, and other pathologies. Due to the inflammatory process, the production of the hormone thrombopoietin begins, which stimulates the maturation of platelets.
• Cancers, for example, lymphogranulomatosis or lung sarcoma. Due to the growth of a malignant neoplasm, the bone marrow is activated, with the result that the blood plates are produced in an increased amount.
• Blood loss caused by injuries, cirrhosis of the liver, anemia (both iron deficiency and hemolytic), ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, and other factors. In such situations, thrombocythemia is the response compensatory response.

If the child has developed thrombocytosis, it can manifest itself:

• Swelling and heaviness in the limbs.
• Soreness in fingertips.
• Itchy skin.
• Weakness
• Cyanosis of the skin of the extremities, as well as the lips.
• Cool to the touch with your hands and feet.
• Dizziness.
• Frequent bleeding from the nose.

Due to too many platelets, blood clotting is accelerated. Platelets begin to stick together with each other and clog up blood vessels, resulting in the formation of blood clots. Their appearance violates the functions of the internal organs, which is especially dangerous if the vessels of the heart or brain are blocked.

The change in the number of platelets is determined during the clinical analysis of blood. When a child’s thrombocytosis is detected, it should be carefully examined, since the cause of the disease is a fundamental factor in prescribing treatment. If the figure is significantly overestimated, the child should:

• Determine the amount of iron in the blood, as well as the level of ferritin, to eliminate anemia.
• Determine serumucoid and C-reactive protein in the blood to confirm the presence of the inflammatory process.
• To make the analysis of blood clotting.
• Conduct an ultrasound study of internal organs.
• Do a urine test.

In the treatment of primary thrombocytosis, cytostatic drugs are used, drugs to improve blood circulation, as well as drugs that prevent blood plates from sticking together. In some cases, prescribed anticoagular and other means.

If platelets are only elevated slightly, medications are not prescribed. In such situations, the doctor will advise to pay attention to the balanced nutrition of the child. In the children's diet should include:

• Products with a lot of iodine. These include fish and seafood.
• Calcium rich foods. First of all, these are dairy products.
• Products from which the child will receive iron. This may be meat, liver, cereals, fruits, etc.
• Products that help thin the blood. This action has a lemon, ginger, cranberry, viburnum, cowberry, garlic, beets, tomato juice, fish fat and some other products.

You can find out more about platelets, their role and normal blood levels by watching the following video.