Low platelet counts can be a result of a variety of causes, including Dengue fever and Cancer treatments. This article discusses the causes and treatments for these conditions. There are several important steps you can take to ensure the blood counts stay within the normal range. If you think you’re suffering from low platelets, talk to your healthcare team. Your doctor may suggest avoiding certain activities and contact sports until your platelet counts are back at normal levels. Also, make sure to ask about any special precautions you should take during sexual activity.
Dengue fever causes low platelet count
Patients with dengue fever who have low platelet counts will most likely undergo several tests, including a complete blood count and IgM and IgG antibodies. While platelet transfusions are not always necessary, they are recommended for severe cases. The condition can have detrimental effects on the heart, lungs, and liver. Blood pressure can also drop to dangerously low levels, resulting in shock or even death.
The current National Guidelines of Sri Lanka for Management of Dengue in Children and Adolescents recommend that CBCs perform every day. If the platelet count falls below 150,000/cc, the CBC must repeat twice daily. The patient’s platelet count was checked once on day 3 and again on day 4. This frequent monitoring may have prevented the presentation of dengue hemorrhagic fever.
The patient presented with fever, diffuse body aches, and a headache. He had recently returned from a trip to India four days prior to his admission. His mother was recently diagnosed with dengue in India. The patient received supportive care during this period. He was advised to drink 75-100 ml of fluid every hour.
The case report describes a 14-year-old previously healthy boy who had a prolonged episode of dengue hemorrhagic fever. His platelet count drops to 6 x 103/cc, but subsequently raises to 100 x 103/cc at one month’s follow-up.
Thrombocytopenia in dengue patients may result from a combination of diminished platelet production in the bone marrow and increased platelet destruction in the peripheral blood. While MPV is normal in dengue patients, abnormally high levels may indicate a more severe case of thrombocytopenia.
Cancer treatments cause low platelet count
Patients who are undergoing cancer treatments may suffer from low platelet count. In rare cases, platelet transfusions may be necessary. These procedures are typically performed in outpatient treatment centers. However, patients should be aware that these procedures are not recommended for everyone. Low platelet counts should detect by a complete blood count.
Low platelet counts can also cause by underlying health conditions and medications. These conditions affect the production, storage, and use of platelets. In rare cases, low platelet counts cause by a condition known as aplastic anemia, in which the bone marrow stops producing new blood cells. Similarly, certain autoimmune diseases can cause the immune system to destroy platelets in the wrong way.
In these cases, a patient’s cancer care team may decide to postpone the cancer treatment until the platelet count is back at its normal level. If the patient is undergoing chemotherapy, the cancer care team may also decide to delay the treatment until the platelet count is back to normal.
Fortunately, patients can often manage the condition with conservative measures and avoiding things that might cause bleeding. However, in some cases, thrombocytopenia may require treatment. Patients should inform about their lab results and keep detailed records. This will help them to advocate for their care and recognize problems before they become life-threatening.
The normal platelet count in an adult is between 150 and 400 x 109/L. However, during chemotherapy, a person’s platelet count can be as low as ten or twenty x 109/L. When platelet counts drop below this level, there is an increased risk of bleeding.
Chemotherapy
Platelets are cells within the blood that help to stop bleeding. Whenever a blood vessel is cut, platelets clump together to stop the bleeding. Normal platelet counts are essential for health. When the platelet count drops too low, it can cause nosebleeds and other types of bleeding. Chemotherapy is one of the main causes of low platelet counts.
Patients who are undergoing chemotherapy frequently will have their platelet count checked. The drugs used during chemotherapy affect bone marrow cells that produce essential blood cells. These blood cells help carry oxygen throughout the body and fight infection. However, chemotherapy will also reduce platelet count, a condition known as thrombocytopenia. Luckily, this condition is often treatable.
A person with thrombocytopenia may also experience a decrease in the number of white blood cells, which reduces the body’s ability to fight infection. In addition, low platelet levels make wounds more likely to bleed and bruise easily. Other common symptoms of low platelet counts include nose bleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, and heavy menstrual flow.
Patients who have thrombocytopenia will need to reduce their chemotherapy dosage or delay the treatment. However, clinical studies have shown that reducing the dose of chemotherapy may reduce the cure rate. However, there are several strategies that can help minimize the need for platelet transfusions and treatment delays.
A treatment that helps patients with thrombocytopenia is a blood-cell growth factor, called Neumega. This drug works by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more platelets. The treatment reduces the need for platelet transfusions and reduces the severity of thrombocytopenia. One common side effect of Neumega is fluid retention, which is reversible after the treatment.
Radiation therapy
Patients undergoing radiotherapy may experience a reduction in platelet count. In some cases, this can be beneficial. However, in most cases, the decrease in platelet count is temporary. This can occur because chemotherapy damages the bone marrow, the tissue inside bones that makes platelets. However, a patient may suffer from low platelet count due to radiation therapy, which is not as common as chemotherapy.
In addition to affecting platelets, radiation therapy may affect leucocytes and neutrophils. These cells are important for the immune system, and their depletion can compromise the immune system and increase the risk of infections. However, studies have not shown a strong association between the presence of leucopenia and survival after radiotherapy. However, a slight increase in leucocytes associates with a better prognosis, and severe leucopenia may increase the risk of recurrence. Further studies need to examine the interactions between leucocyte subpopulations and tumors.
Researchers have found that anti-PF4 antibodies and TPO improve platelet recovery in irradiated mice. Anti-PF4 treatment increases intramedullary levels of free PF4. This effect may occur in mice, irradiated with radiation, but alternative doses and schedules of anti-PF4 treatments may counteract these effects. However, alternative approaches need in order to reduce mortality due to radiation injury.
Studies have shown that patients with cancer who undergo radiation therapy will have a significantly lower platelet count than those who do not receive the treatment. This difference is particularly noticeable in patients undergoing chemotherapy. In addition to the lack of platelet count, radiation therapy is known to decrease the number of T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells in the body. The antiplatelet drugs may also improve locoregional control of patients with advanced head and neck cancer who undergo definitive chemo-radiation.
