Platelets are the smallest blood cells responsible for its coagulability. Starting from birth, as you grow older, the rate of platelet count changes. In newborns and children of the first week of life, the platelet norm is 100,000-420000, in babies up to 1 year old - from 150,000 to 350,000, in older children and adults, the number of 180,000-320000 units is the norm.
Blood sampling rules
To be sure of the correctness of the result, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendations of specialists, namely:
- blood should be taken only on an empty stomach;
- on the eve of research, do not expose the body to excessive physical exertion and stressful situations (including hypothermia);
- limit the use of certain medications that may affect platelet count.
Let’s figure it out with you, which means if the tests showed that the platelets in the child are elevated.
Reasons for increased platelet count
The average platelet volume is increased with:
- blood diseases, such as erythremia, thrombocythemia, myelogenous leukemia (these diseases can be either acquired or hereditary);
- platelets in a child may also be increased after infectious diseases (meningitis, pneumonia, hepatitis and others), since, to cope with inflammation during such ailments, the body intensively produces a hormone that promotes the rapid maturation of platelets;
- surgical interventions;
- stressful situations.
Platelets in a child may be elevated after past illnesses, namely iron deficiency anemia, acute rheumatism, diseases of viral etiology, leukemia, leukemia.
How to identify platelet abnormalities
It is necessary to regularly monitor whether the platelets in the child are increased or lowered, since both situations are very dangerous. With a decrease in platelet count, bleeding, bruising, bruising after minor strokes, dizziness occur. An increase in the level of platelets in the blood contributes to the increased formation of blood clots, which is very life-threatening.
Platelet Count During Pregnancy
Particular attention should also be given to platelet count during pregnancy. Normal is considered a slight decrease in platelet count of a pregnant woman compared with a non-pregnant woman, whose platelet norm is 150,000-400,000 units. The causes of this phenomenon are many, the main ones are, such as dehydration, viral infection, taking medications.
A very dangerous situation is when the platelets are raised during pregnancy. By the decision of doctors, even termination of pregnancy is possible, since there is a high risk of blood clots.
Thrombocytosis treatment
Since with an increased content of platelets in the blood, blood is thicker, the main actions are aimed at liquefying it. This can be done both medically (using the drugs prescribed by the attending physician), and by using special foods (lemon, beets, pomegranate, sour berries, such as cranberries, viburnum, sea buckthorn and others).