Is it normal for a child to have a high platelet count? My son has had some health issues since he was 16 months old (11/2005). He was VERY yellow and the Dr. did a bunch blood work and she said maybe he was getting too much veggies, which I know is not true since he hates them. She did a blood count on him and it was VERY high. I don't remeber how high it was, but it was high enough for her to be concerned to call a dr. at a childrens hospital. That Dr. also has never seen something like it. So, what else doe the Dr. do but decide to leave what they don't know alone. Insurance won't pay for him to see different Dr's either (except for others in the same office). Since then he has been ill too many times to count. Since the middle of Oct. he has been on amoxicilin 2x and zithromax 1x for different things that are all cold like symtoms. He now has strep throat with cold like symtoms, one dr. in the office says it looks like scarlet fever and the other says mono. But back on track here, it seems like he is sick at least 1x per month. I know this is not narmal. The blood count scares me and does even more when the dr. has no clue. My mother says my grandfather was like that and had something to where he needed blood removed often, she could not recall waht it was called.
Does anyone here had the same issue or know anyone who has and maybe have some advice?
~Yes, he is on title 19~
1/7/07
Little guy is already sick again. It always starts out as a fever and cold like symtoms and then next he has problems breathing. He has been ill like this quite a few times since late Sept.
M. S.
Do you know what specific value in his blood is high? You need to find that out before you go any farther with this because without that, you don't know what you are dealing with. You could call his pedi and find out - I would even go so far as getting copies of all of his lab work so you have it for your records.
I can't help you much, but I will say that I am sick at least once a month, and have been as long as I can remember. I'm sitting here with strep at the moment. I thought once I had my tounsils removed it would solve everything, but it solved nothing... except tonsillitis I guess. It's super frustrating, because I really do work out and eat healthy like they tell you too, and my husband eats junk and doesn't work out, yet has only been sick maybe twice in his life... argh. Anyway, that's off the point. I don't think it's normal to be sick so often, but he's not the only one out there like this! I was actually planning on going to see a new doctor on tuesday so if they can tell me whats wrong with me I'll pass it on and maybe it'll help you. In the mean time, webmd.com is a great website, and I would ask his doctor to research his symptoms for you. I have a great eye doctor that took it upon himself to research a rare condition I have (that wasn't really a big deal, I had learned to live with it) but he explained it to me at my next appointment (a year later...) Why can't all doctors be like that? Hang in there and good luck!
Hey,
Ok, when you say High blood count. Are you meaning High White cell count or high red blood cell count? Have you researched this condition on the web at at all? Any doctor that is saying that your child is like that because of too many veggies is a quack! Do NOT go back to them. There is NO such thing as too many veggies. If you email me privately and let me know a little more info I can try and help you better. I would imagine that what you really need to do is boost your child's immune system so that he is getting sick less. My son was chronically sick until we did that and now he has not been really sick for over a year. I tend to be a bit of a health freak and am currently in the Paramedic/Nursing program. :)
My oldest was in the hospital for three days with a high platlet count and they still don't know what caused it. I would keep taking him to the doctor and make sure he completes the full prescription of antibiotics. Make sure he takes them until they are gone, even if he seems like he's better. My youngest had strep throat three times last winter and I found out it was because he wouldn't finish the antibiotics. Good Luck and try not to worry too much. Happy New Year!!
With Title 19, you can file a request to see a different pediatrician, by changing his PCM (Primary Care Manager). That should be your first step. Then have them check his blood work again, but make sure they do a Liver Function, as well as an autoimmune panel. You might also want him to be tested gentically. If you can get a referral to a Developmental Pediatrician, they would probably be very helpful. Have there been any developmental delays? That would give you grounds to request a referral. You wouldn't be taking him to see Dr. Z, would you?
Hello, sorry to hear that your little one is having health issues. Have you been to hematologist (blood disorder specialist)? Because you mention a family history of a blood disorder, that is the best place to start. He may need a bone marrow test to rule out leukemia. If your son was yellow, (jaundiced), you would usually look at liver function, but this could also be an immune disorder due to frequency of illnesses, so really, I encourage you to take him to a hematologist for a thorough blood workup.
To help boost his health in the meantime, he could take those chewable vitamin gummy bears if he doesn't like veggies. :)
I wish you and him well! T.
Hi, my daughter is now 4-years-old. She has had a high platelet count since she was at least 1-month-old. Her platelet numbers usually run in the 1,000,000 range (or 1,000 depending on how your doctor gives you the numbers). Her pediatrician just continued to monitor them for several months and when they never went down she referred us on to a hematologist. I think when she was 1 or 2 they started her on aspirin therapy to help prevent clotting. Her platelet numbers kind of fluctuate a little so her hematologist isn't too worried about leukemia. I think with Chloe, her dad has a high platelet level too, so they are thinking the reason her platelets are high is hereditary. I would definitely ask your child's doctor for a referral to a hematologist, preferrably a pediatric one. I don't know where you live at, you could probably search for one on the AMA website. My daughter sees a hematologist up at Children's Hospital in Omaha, NE, her name is Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, she's GREAT!! Now that Chloe's 4, we just check a CBC every six months to see what her platelets are at, and follow-up with Dr. Thompson once a year. If you have any questions, please ask me, I'm not an expert, but this is definitely something I've gone through.
You know as some have said we all have a low platelet count in my family. We bleed very bad and lots for a long time. It is very diffucult to get our blood to clot. It is thin. This is very serious. I wonder if a high platelet count would go the opposite direction by logic and have extremly sticky blood and cause blood clots and such. I would really think about that. If that is the case it could cause a stroke if one of those clots hits the brain. Is his blood pressure high or low? I would seriously consider looking into taking him to a hemotalogist. Just by my family's strange medical history if you have an extreme in any direction it shouldn't be left alone. If you are in Omaha there are usually tons of studies going on with the two med colleges. They usually pay for all the test cause they want to "study" your results. Sometimes you even get money for gas to and from the study. Like I said strange medical conditions shouldn't be left alone just cause you dont' understand it. They did that with my father and he died at a very young age cause he was never treated, well never until it was to late. Also, Now my stomach is destroyed cause of the effects of our genes so to speak, again they always told my mother they had no clue what was going on and to leave it alone. Now I know that if they had done something earlier and taken me to a specialist I wouldn't have a horrid stomach disorder and to take meds for it every day. So please look into it for him. Don't let it go.
I would definitly see a different doctor. I know that your insurance might not cover another doctor, and that maybe you can't afford to go to a lot of different doctors, but I think that you need to. I don't have indurance on one of my kids, and so I can relate to the expence concern... however, you need to find out how to help your child. It is more important to get help, than to worry about the cost. Make payments, something. I would be concerned. It doesn't sound right. I have 5 kids and I know the stresses of medical finances... but I really think that you should look into another doctor. Try for the referral, and if that doesn't work, do some research of other doctors in your area. I will be praying for you and your family. Good luck!
Is your son seeing a family doctor? Or a pediatrician? I have my children on title 19 and they can only go to the doctor on their card, or in their office. However the way I get around that is ask my family doctor for a referal and they usually give it to me. If this is the case with you, then I would ask for a referal to see a pediatrican. I'm not sure of your exact sercomstances so I hope this helps. Good luck
Hi,
I'm not extremely farmiliar with high platelet count, but my mother has an extremely low platelet count, which means her blood is very thin, she bruises easily, and if in a serious injury, could easily bleed internally. Also, it is very difficult for her blood to clot, weather internally, or with a cut or something. So I would guess that your son's condition is the exact opposite. Perhaps his blood clots very easily (which could be very dangerous - clots could form internally and travel to the lungs, brain, cause a stroke, etc. What I've heard is what your mother suggested, withdrawing blood regularly to keep the blood from getting too thick. I because his arteries are already having to deal with thicker blood, I would be very consious of his trans fats and cholesteral. I am certainly no doctor but I believe this condition is serious enough to take your son to a cardiologist - not just a regular doctor, but someone who knows about blood and this sort of thing. It is terrible that your insurance wouldn't cover this, but I think very negative circumstances will occur if you don't get him on some medication for this soon (I know my mom take medication to increase her platelets, so I'm guessing there is a medication to reduce). If this goes on without treatment, that could be a liver problem or something that has gone undetected. Hope this helps a little bit - perhaps check out the mayo clinic's website.
D.
