PLATELETS LOW-PLEASE ANY ADVICE

[mrsgee]

my dd suffers with nose bleeds, after a recent blood test it showed that her platelets are low.
the doctor wants to see her again to look at her bruises and then possibly refer her to a consultant.
has any one had this and can they offer any more info. im not in panick mode i just would like some more information

My sister used to get terrible nose bleeds when younger and had some medication for low platelets for a while. It did have a name but can't remember now..it was nothing sinister anyway. And her daughter now has terrible nose bleeds. Hope all is okay, must be worrying.

I had this when I was a child as a result of having German measles. It's called thrombocytopenia, and it's often caused as a side-effect of another virus, although there are other causes too.

In most cases no treatment is necessary, although they will monitor her platelet levels closely for a while. I was in hospital for a week, then had to spend about three months off school. I had to make sure that I didn't do anything that could cause bruises, and to be sure I didn't cut myself, but that was about it.

What they suggest you do will depend on how low her platelets are, but generally it's not a serious problem.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions - traceyparker63 at hotmail dot com

thanks wwb
got docs app later in week so may email after that

No problem - hope she gets on OK at the doctors. Try and insist that he sends her to see someone, even if it's just to put your mind at rest.

have just looked on theITP site and at least i know what i could be facing with her.
her platelets arnt too low and her bruising is only minimal but i will insist we see someone. the doctor said that she needs to see her agin to look at the bruising, not sure how she can tell any difference and know that she will need to send her on to consultant, any ideas

The GP wouldn't really be able to tell anything by looking, unless her bruising has worsened, or the mini-haemorhages that she might get behind her knees and so on start or get worse. The only way to tell is by blood tests, and depending on how low her levels are the blood tests may need to be daily until the levels start to rise. Even once they rise she will need regular blood tests for a while to ensure that they stay raised. The GP isn't the best person to do that.

I would dig my heels in and insist on her being referred to a consultant on the grounds that unless her condition is monitored, you don't know whether it's worsening and you won't know whether to handle her with kid gloves or not. Lay it on a bit thick if you have to.

I have ITP which is low platelets. Have had it since I was 16 and likely to have it ofrever. Dangerous at times but Specific times like childbirth.

In children its likely that they'll outgrow it and it won't develop into adult itp