A general blood test can tell a lot. Platelets, leukocytes, erythrocytes contained in the blood react to the presence of any pathological conditions in the body, and therefore their increase or, conversely, decrease allows you to detect various diseases at an early stage.
Platelets are the smallest nuclear-free disc-shaped
blood cells, or rather, not even cells, but their fragments. They are produced by megakaryocytes in the
red bone marrow and are responsible for
blood coagulation. The number of platelets in the
internal environment of the child’s
body is not the same at different ages. To determine their level, a few milliliters of blood are taken from the finger.
Symptoms of thrombocytosis
Attentive parents may suspect elevated platelets in their child. In children and adults, this condition is called thrombocytosis. If cellular fragments in the blood are present in excess, they can unnecessarily block blood vessels and form blood clots, which is very dangerous. This manifests itself, as a rule, in an increase in bleeding (causeless nosebleeds are most often observed), periodic flow of hands, feet, dizziness, general weakness. When all these symptoms are observed in the complex, it can be assumed that the child has thrombocytosis, however, to confirm a possible diagnosis, a blood test is necessary.
Causes
Elevated platelets in children in the blood can indicate a lot. It is impossible to independently determine why their increase occurred. A pediatrician can help with this, but if he still cannot determine the cause, he will refer you to a hematologist - a blood specialist. Elevated platelets in children can be primary or secondary. So, primary thrombocytosis is a consequence of hereditary or acquired blood diseases, such as erythremia, myelogenous leukemia. The cause of secondary thrombocytosis is often an infectious disease (for example, meningitis, pneumonia, hepatitis), in which, to suppress the inflammatory process, the body intensively begins to produce a hormone that promotes platelet maturation. In addition, elevated platelets in children can be observed after any surgery or under severe stress.
Treatment
A high level of platelet in the blood leads to the fact that the blood becomes thicker than normal should be. To dilute it, special medicines are used, but this can also be achieved by the use of certain products. Platelets can be lowered by reducing protein and animal foods in the diet, eliminating fatty, spicy, fried foods, including berries, especially acidic ones (sea buckthorn, viburnum, cranberries, rose hips, currants), lemon, celery, ginger, pomegranate, etc. Of course, these foods should be eaten in moderation. Sometimes malnutrition leads to low platelets being detected during a blood test . In a child, this phenomenon can also be caused by infection, allergies, malignancy, anemia, and tuberculosis.