Is low platelet count serious in children?

Since children develop slowly, many of their body functions are not fully developed. This can lead to many problems. For example, when many parents go to the hospital to check their children, they will find out that their children’s platelet count is low. In fact, many parents do not know what kind of impact their children’s low platelet count will have on their children’s development and health. So, will low platelet count have any impact on children? Here may be the answer you want to know.

Low platelet count in children may be caused by decreased platelet production

If a child's platelet production is reduced, then the child's platelet count is of course low. Thrombocytopenia includes both hereditary and acquired. Acquired thrombocytopenia is caused by certain factors such as drugs, malignant tumors, infection, ionizing radiation, etc. that damage hematopoietic stem cells or affect their proliferation in the bone marrow. It is also common in blood diseases such as aplastic anemia and acute leukemia. These factors can affect multiple hematopoietic cells, often accompanied by varying degrees of anemia, leukopenia, and a significant decrease in bone marrow megakaryocytes.

Low platelet count in children may be due to defects in the human immune system

Low platelet count in children may be caused by defects in the human immune mechanism and an imbalance in the immune system, which is medically known as immune thrombocytopenia. There are many factors that can trigger this disease, including chemical poisons, radiation, ionizing radiation, vaccinations, inflammatory viral infections, drugs, excessive fatigue, etc. These factors can only be speculated and it is impossible to determine what exactly caused it.

Mainly, these inducing factors have no direct relationship with treatment. For example, if the patient is caused by long-term exposure to chemical toxins, the important thing is to cure the root cause and prevent recurrence. If it is cured, it will not be affected by any factors and recur.

Children's low platelets may be affected by medication

1. Drugs that cause low bone marrow regeneration or disorder accompanied by pancytopenia. Chemical substances and drugs that can easily cause bone marrow hypoplasia at a certain dose: ① Benzene, xylene, etc. ②Alkylating agents: such as nitrogen mustard, cyclophosphamide, phenylpropionate mustard, etc. ③Antimetabolites: such as cytarabine, mercaptopurine, etc. ④Anti-cancer antibiotics: such as doxorubicin, adriamycin, etc. ⑤Others: such as organic arsenic, etc.

2. Drugs that can cause bone marrow aplasia or hypoplasia: such as chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, penicillin, streptomycin, Xinqing No. 1, trimethadione, phenytoin sodium, ethosuximide, antithyroid drugs (such as thiouracil, propylthiouracil, thyroxine), diabetes drugs (such as tolbutamide, chlorbutamide, chlorpropamide, etc.), phenylbutazone, indomethacin, tranquilizers and sedatives (tranquilization, chlordiazepoxide, chlorpromazine, etc.), gold preparations, hair dyes, promethazine, chlorpheniramine, acetazolamide, etc.

3. Drugs that selectively inhibit the production of platelets by megakaryocytes: such as chlorothiazide, estrogens, ethanol, tolbutamide, ristocetin, etc.

Low platelet count in children may be caused by antibodies

Low platelet count in children may also be caused by antibodies (biochemical substances with protective effects) formed by the body attacking its own platelets. Certain acute infections are the root cause of this disease. Too much blood transfusion in a short period of time (such as during major surgery), or abnormal bleeding and clotting may cause thrombocytopenia.

The child's low platelet count may be affected by the mother's

If the pregnant mother has thrombocytopenia or takes medication, the newborn will have thrombocytopenia and cause bleeding. Immune, infection and other factors can also cause thrombocytopenia. Children are generally normal at birth. However, only a few hours or 24 hours after birth, extensive bleeding spots and ecchymosis will appear. Vomiting blood, nosebleeds, blood in the stool, umbilical oozing, etc. may also occur. In severe cases, intracranial hemorrhage may occur, and blood tests may show a decrease in platelet count.