What Are the Treatments for Low Platelets in Infants?
Whenever any disorder causes low platelet levels, it is referred to as thrombocytopenia. Platelets help with clotting the blood, and when they are low, it is generally due to lowered production in the bone marrow, increased breakdown in the bloodstream or in the spleen or liver. However, in infants, the cause is rarely a platelet production problem.
Other People Are Reading
-
Treatment
-
The treatment of low platelets is dependent on the reason for the condition of thrombocytopenia. Often, if it is serious, which in infants would involve the possibility of an intracranial hemorrhage, the treatment involves blood transfusion.
Infants
-
Thrombocytopenia occurs in 1 to 4 percent of infants who are born full term, in 40 to 72 percent of sick preterm babies, and in 25 percent of infants admitted to intensive care nurseries. Of the latter, 75 percent develop the disorder within the first 72 hours.
-
Severe Thrombocytopenia
-
While rare, severe thrombocytopenia can be quite serious and requires prompt treatment. Typically, these cases are from neonatal allo-immune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) and the treatment is platelet transfusion, consisting of platelets from the mother and washed of antibodies.
Other Cases
-
Most infants will not have severe bleeding, unless they are seriously ill, and will be monitored closely.
Sick Infants
-
If infants don't maintain a healthy level of platelets and are at risk for bleeding, transfusion is required. The platelets will need to be the proper blood type and Rh matched to the infant, as well as screened carefully as the infant will likely be susceptible to infection.
-
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
