What are the ways to increase platelet count in a dengue patient?

Question

Hello doctor,

My friend has been diagnosed with dengue fever since last week evening. His platelets were 1,35,000 five days back, then decreased a day later to 1,17,0000. Then next day night he was admitted in hospital because his platelets reduce again and count was 80,000. After admitting, his platelets are still reducing. Next day evening was 66,000 and today morning is 60,000. But he is feeling well as compared to starting days. Right now he has very low fever, no headache.

We are very worried about platelets count. How we can increase and why still platelets count are decreasing after admitting him? The doctor is giving only Paracetamol saline. No medicine. Could you please suggest what we need to do or it will recover soon? He is taking 5 litre water daily and fruits apple, kiwi.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Firstly, admitting the patient will not lead to an improvement in platelet count. The patient will be advised admission when the platelet counts are low because of the risk associated with bleeding due to low platelet count.

Secondly, initially, there will be high-grade fevers then as the fever comes down that is called defervescence the viral load comes down and destruction of platelets comes down and platelet levels initially get stabilized and then gradually improves. Third, there is no medicine that can actually directly improve platelet count.

Fourth, the only thing we should understand is to maintain good hydration and for symptomatic relief, we give saline for hydration and Paracetamol for fever and body pains relief. Fifth, to what level platelets go down and then start improving varies between patients that depends upon one's individual immunity status. So to boost immunity and catabolic state we need to provide nutritious food, fruits and maintain good hydration.