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What Causes Elevated Platelet Count In An Infant?

Posted on Sat, 23 May 2015

Question: My daughter is one year old and only weighs 13.5 lbs. She has been labeled as "failing to thrive." So far, tests haven't come up with anything but a slightly elevated platelet count of 455 (although her pediatrician said that her results were all "normal"). Should we delve further into the elevated platelet count or go with the dr. and pass it off as normal? Could it lead to super slow weight gain?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
What was her birthweight? Do you have her growth chart?

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this this difficulty that your daughter has putting on weight. Some children are born small and may remain small which does not necessarily means they have failed to thrive. I will like to know what her birthweight was and also take a look at her growth curve if you can provide these. for instance, a child who was born in the lower 5th percentile can stay in the lower 5th percentile for all age groups and would not be labelled as failure to thrive. However, if you were in the 10th percentile and fall to the 5th percentile, you can be labelled as failure to thrive. What really clinches the diagnosis here is whether the child has fallen downward from her expected growth chart.

The platelets count are normal and need no further explorations in this regard. I agree with her pediatrician.

In all, I will like to know her birth weight and get a trace of her growth curve to tell whether she has failed to thrive or not. The platelets are normal and you shouldn’t be any concerned about it.

I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (17 hours later)

Thank you so much doctor! She was born at 5lbs 3oz at 37 weeks gestation.
      height     weight     head
Birth      19.75      5.2      12.75
4 weeks          6.75
2 months     20.75     7.5     14
4 months     23.5     10     14
5 months     24     11.5     15.75
6 months     24.5     11.75     16
8 months     24     12     16
10 months     25     12.75     16
11 months     25.5     14.2     16.5
12 months     26     13.75     17

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (27 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your child was born small!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for this detailed information. I have revised it fully. This child was born with a small weight below that of the general population and it would not be too surprising if she is not up to what the general population is by one year. She doubled her weight by the 6th month and this very much in line with the textbook expectations. However, her reduced and constant weight of 13.75lbs at 1year seems smaller. If she has any discernible symptoms of concern, I will recommend further investigations. If there are none I will recommend nutritional counseling and monitoring at this time.

I hope this guides enough. Let me know what your take is on this.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (31 hours later)

Thank you. No symptoms of concern and she is meeting developmental milestones. She eats everything: veggies, eggs, beef, fish, chicken....we will keep at it!

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Am in support of that!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up information.

I am onboard with you. Continue and monitor. unless something clearly abnormal pops up, feeding the child rigth is all I would recommend at this time. Keep m update with her progress and feel free to ask for any more clarifications if need be.

I wish you and your daughter well.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar