Platelet Count – Normal Platelet Count | Low Platelet Count-Thrombocytopenia
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A platelet count is a type of lab test that measures the number of platelets in your blood.
In this article, let’s know,
- What Platelet Count is.
- What is the function of platelets in our bodies?
- Why platelets are counted,
- What are the precautions to be taken before the test,
- How long does the test result come,
- reading of the test,
- How much is the normal count,
- In which case the platelet count is low and,
- in which case it is high. And the most important we will know,
- The symptoms that appear to make you think to count platelets.
Blood in our body consists of 4 things
- Plasma
- Red blood cell
- White blood cell and
- Platelets
Thus, platelets are part of the blood, which helps in the blood clot.
Platelets are red in color and are smaller than white blood cells and are plate-like in shape, which is circulating in the blood. Platelets are cells responsible for forming a blood clot.
Blood Clot
Blood clotting is a defense process in our body to stop bleeding.
Whenever blood is released from our body due to any injury, these platelets break down and form an enzyme that converts the soluble protein called fibrinogen present in the plasma, which is made in the liver, into the insoluble protein fibrin.
This fibrin accumulates as clots at the injury site and prevents bleeding.
Importance Of Platelet Count
A number of conditions are closely observed with the help of platelets count, which can affect the formation of effective clottings, such as bleeding disorders, infections, blood cancer, etc.
Now let’s know about platelets count.
As we discussed in starting, the platelet count is a test in which platelets are counted in a person with the help of blood samples.
Normal Platelet Count
Platelet count in a healthy person range from 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood.
Thrombocytosis
When the amount of platelets in the body exceeds 450,000, a problem called thrombocytosis arises.
Thrombocytopenia
A condition called thrombocytopenia occurs when the platelet count is less than 150,000.
CBC
The number of platelets is counted with a normal routine blood test, called a Complete Blood Count (CBC).
Why Platelet Count is done – What is the purpose of Platelet Count
The platelet count test helps doctors know the number of platelets in your blood. With the help of this test, doctors help in checking the problems related to bone marrow and other problems in which excessive amounts of platelets are destroyed.
Reasons For Producing Low Platelet Count
- Aplastic anemia,
- Vitamin B12 deficiency,
- Lack of folate,
- iron deficiency,
- Viral infection, (which includes HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and chickenpox),
- Exposure to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, etc.
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Cirrhosis,
- Leukemia (blood cancer), etc.
Platelets can also be reduced as a result of the body destroying more platelets. This may be due to the side effects of some types of medicines, including anti-epileptic medications, and diuretics.
Also, there are other factors,
- Hypersplenism or spleen (spleen) size increase, hypersplenism
- Autoimmune disorder,
- Pregnancy,
- Bacterial infections of the blood,
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP),
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP),
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), etc.
What Is Done Before The Platelet Count?
Before going for the test, make sure that you are wearing a half-sleeved shirt or T-shirt, or wear a shirt whose sleeves can be easily folded.
Food can be consumed as usual before the platelet count test. However, doctors may ask you to refrain from eating or drinking anything for some time. Doctors say this when blood samples have to be used for other tests as well.
During the blood platelets count test, the doctor extracts a sample of blood from your vein.
What Is Done After Counting Platelets?
Results of the platelet blood count test usually come within a few hours.
What Does The Result Of Platelet count Mean?
Platelet Count Normal Range
If the amount of platelets per microliter of blood is found between 150,000 and 450,000, then the result is considered normal.
Unusual Result Means
Low Platelets Count
Low platelets are considered when their numbers fall below 150,000. The risk of bleeding increases greatly after platelets fall below 50,000, and in such a situation, daily activities can also cause bleeding.
Thrombocytopenia
When the platelet count falls below normal, it is called ‘thrombocytopenia’. Due to platelet count depletion conditions we have previously discussed, these conclusions are the main three reasons:
- Not having enough platelets in the bone marrow or bone marrow,
- Loss of platelets in the blood,
- Loss of platelets in the liver or spleen.
There are 3 common reasons for platelet reduction:
- Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Drugs or medicines etc.
- Autoimmune disease, in which case the immune system attacks the body itself and destroys healthy cells like platelets.
High Platelet Count
When the number of platelets is 400,000 or above, they are considered more platelets than normal.
Thrombocytosis
The condition of platelets exceeding the normal number is called thrombocytosis. This means that the body is producing more platelets than normal amounts, the reasons for this may include:
- A type of anemia, which destroys red blood cells before the normal time. (Hemolytic anemia)
- Anemia due to iron deficiency or sickle cell disease.
- The condition after any major surgery, injury or infection, etc.
- Cancer
- Some types of medicines.
- Diseases of bone marrow.
- The formation of platelets in excess by the bone marrow, the cause of which is unknown. (Primary thrombocythemia).
The persons who have a higher number of platelets in their test may have a risk of forming a blood clot in blood. Blood clots can cause serious medical conditions.
When is the Platelet Count Test Done?
If your doctor suspects that your platelets may be low, then physical examination is done. During the examination, the doctor examines the marks on the body (Petechiae), etc., these scars are like rashes, often due to a decrease in platelets.
Doctors also test the abdomen, in which the spleen size increases, etc. are examined. Platelets begin to decrease as spleen size increases.
Also when one or more of the following signs and symptoms are present:
- More or less blue marks on the body (Bruising) – causing small reddish-purple spots like rashes in the skin. They are usually seen in the lower part of the legs.
- Bleeding for a long time due to an injury or a bit of cut in the skin,
- Bleeding gums or nose bleeding,
- Blood in urine,
- Blood in the stool,
- Excessive menstrual bleeding,
- Fatigue
- Increase in the size of the spleen,
- jaundice.
So, friends, this is all about, Platelet Count – Normal Platelet Count | Low Platelet Count
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