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Posted On : 29 Jun 2012

a 3yr girl was refeered with report showing platelets to be around 20,000 smear showed platelets in clumps.the child had no ho fever she was active and playful with no complaints.plz give me the diagnosis and management

Expert Answer :

Answer Discussion :

V

vijay bhaskar thatty

0

can be normal

12 years ago

N

nadir brivkani

0

this is an ITP needs just follow up and observation

12 years ago

L

laxmi

0

clot in the blood

12 years ago

H

howayda mahmoud

0

thrmocytopenia

12 years ago

M

melad zaki sedra

0

Idiopathic thromocytopenia

12 years ago

Answer 1

First question is to find out why was platelet count asked for. It appears that this has been a normal child without any symptoms. Unless one knows reasons behind asking for a test, decision based on mere test result is not rational. If you are confronted with 20,000 platelet count in a normal looking child, first thing you do is to confirm this report. It would be ideal to ensure good technique of doing a test and look at automated counter result compared with manual method to be sure. Commonest cause of faulty result is a technical error such a clot in collected sample. If finally you confirm this report to be true, then watch carefully for any evidence of bleeding but dont treat this child with platelet transfusion. Repeat platelet count again after 24 hours even if the child has remained well and then take it further. Message is not to treat the report but at the same time not ignore it either but do not act but follow-up closely.

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