Experts: Don’t panic over falling platelet count in dengue

NAGPUR: With dengue cases rising in the city, ‘platelet count’ has become a main point of discussion in many households. Daily blood test for platelet count is a routine for many who have been diagnosed with dengue. While monitoring platelets is must in dengue, there is no need to panic over it, said expert haematogists, doctors who treat blood-forming organs and blood disorders.
“A majority of dengue cases see fall in platelet count up to a certain level. But it reaches the normal level once dengue is cured. Effective medication and rest can deal with most dengue cases. If it falls below 10,000 per microlitre of blood, doctors ask for blood transfusion and platelets are supplied externally,” said Dr Riya Ballikar, consultant hematologist. She also appealed to people to donate platelets as blood banks may face a crunch in case of rise in dengue cases.
“Platelets is the most discussed parameter in dengue but we need to concentrate on other points too. These include eating healthy food, taking complete rest, maintaining BP, hydration, and avoiding other infections during dengue stage. Doctors know better how to handle the platelet count,” she added.
Dr Ballikar delivered an informative talk on idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) — the bleeding disorders caused by reduction in number of platelets at a one-day Hemato Onco Symposium organized by the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) on Sunday.
Dr Nirmal Jaiswal, president of AMS, said an independent symposium on hematology and oncology was a must to share latest developments in these fields with medicos and spread awareness in common people. “Hematologists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing blood disorders. In the present scenario, there is increased risk for conditions involving red or white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, or spleen. All these issues were discussed during the symposium,” said Dr Jaiswal.
Dr Dipanjan Haldar highlighted how complete blood count (CBC), the most primary blood test, is carried out with advanced technology for precision and its significance to diseases. Sameer Melinkeri from Pune spoke on a rare case of haemolytic anaemia. Dr Vinay Bohra spoke about effectiveness of immunotherapy in lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymph nodes and vessels. Dr Girish Badrakhe shared valuable information about HLH — a rare disease in newborns, and spoke of how bone marrow transplant is the best solution for it.