Peripheral smear study is a blood test used to detect any abnormalities in the blood cells. This test helps determine the number and shape of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. It is used to diagnose different types of anemia, leukemia, HIV infection, hepatitis C virus infection, candidiasis, pinworm infection, and other blood disorders.
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My father is losing blood without a cause. Why?
Query: Hi doctor, My father is 67 years old. He is suffering from loss of blood without knowing him. What will be the cause? They have consulted a local physician, and he said nothing to worry about it. But, he did not give any cause of it. Please help me to understand the cause and necessary treatment. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Loss of blood can stem from various factors. Gastrointestinal bleeding, for instance, might manifest as black, tarry, malodorous stools, even in small quantities. However, absence of these symptoms doesn't exclude the possibility. A stool test for occult blood is advisab... Read Full »
From my test report, please explain if I have a chance to develop leukemia.
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 42-year-old female. My test report says WBC count 12.46, AMC 0.85, AEC 0.76, and normocytic normochromic cells. I feel extreme weakness, frequent infections, petechiae, and daily headaches. But, there is no weight loss. Are there any chances of leukemia? For your information, durin... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. After looking into your reports there is nothing to be worried except for low vitamin D.Coming to your doubt of leukemia, the probability is very less. But, you need to get a peripheral smear examination which will throw more light into the condition. It will find a... Read Full »
Why is my daughter's hemoglobin level low?
Query: Hi doctor, My 3 years old daughter is diabetic since 1.5 years of age and she is also anemic. Sugar is not much a concern. Recently, we got her blood test done and her hemoglobin is 10 and serum ferritin is 1.71. I have given her Iron supplement for over eight months now. Since then, this is her thi... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. 1. Anemia can have many causes. Iron deficiency is one of them and very common. 2. There can be other causes, which require some other investigations like peripheral smear and vitamin B12 levels. But, low ferritin points towards low iron as the cause. 3. If she ever re... Read Full »
Why does my platelet count decrease consistently?
Query: Hi doctor, I just wanted to ask a question. My platelets count is consistently low when examined. What is the cause for the decrease in platelet count? I am not sure what are the tests checked? I am taking tablet Zoloft. Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. According to the history, you are having low platelet count. The various causes are dengue, malaria, hemolytic anemia, ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), hypersplenism, a viral infection like hepatitis, EBV (Epstein Barr virus), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus... Read Full »
What precaution should I take to conceive if both the partners have beta thalassemia?
Query: Hello doctor, My HBA2 is 5.8 (beta-thalassemia trait) and my husband HBA2 is 4. We have a daughter whose HBA2 is 3.6 (delta beta thalassemia trait). We do not have any issues still now. We are planning for the second issue. Please suggest. What test required and how much safety is there? Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. You are certainly having beta thalassemia minor. But your husband's HBA2 value is borderline. So to confirm the diagnosis of beta thalassemia minor of him by CBC (complete blood count), peripheral smear examination report, and genetic study in the good laboratory. ... Read Full »
Why am I having low platelet count?
Query: Hello doctor, I have had blood tests done. In the past, I have had clumping platelets, then low sitting at 135 then 114 now the last two are at 103. Is that bad? Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The platelet clumps sometimes can give a false low count of platelet if CBC is done in automated cell counter only. So in such case, you need to investigate with platelet count by the manual method as well after peripheral smear preparation. So I suggest you investig... Read Full »
I have 3.5 pack-year history of smoking. Am I prone to leukemia?
Query: Hello doctor, I am 29 years old and I am a former smoker. I smoked half a pack a day from the age of 19 to 26 years (3.5 pack years). I stopped smoking three years ago. I also had three CT scans in my life that totaled just a little over 9 mSv. for some reason. I have attached the CT scan reports. I... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have seen your CT scans (attachment removed to protect patient identity). As of now, you are not having any symptoms and CT (computed tomography) scans reveal no mass as well. So you are not having cancer as per the history. The risk cannot be predicted when the ... Read Full »
Kindly tell me if anything is wrong with my blood report.
Query: Hi doctor, I am attaching my CBC report. Please tell me if anything is wrong with it. Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). There is a mild elevation of total leukocyte count and absolute lymphocyte count is slightly high. So, there is nothing alarmingly wrong. You have no clinical complaint also, so this c... Read Full »
My daughter's hemoglobin and iron levels are low. Is it due to ITP?
Query: Hello doctor,My 21-year-old daughter suffered from ITP, two years back. Her hemoglobin and iron are low again, so she started taking Orofer. Her hemoglobin is 10.3 g/dL and her iron is 25. The platelet count is fine. Please help. Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. According to the history provided, it is a case of anemia. Here hemoglobin level is low and serum iron level is also low. Hence, it is suggestive of iron-deficiency anemia. But for proper workup, I need to know peripheral smear examination report with CBC (complete blo... Read Full »
The reports of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy differ. How?
Query: Hi doctor, Bone marrow aspiration twice showed hypercellular bone marrow with overgrowth of WBC and megakaryocytes with all stages of maturing including micro-megakaryocytes. But at the same time, the second BMA during bone marrow biopsy showed normocellular bone marrow. Is something like that possi... Read Full »
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. You have not mentioned the age of the patient, peripheral smear, and CBC (complete blood count) findings. You mentioned that bone marrow was showing overgrowth of the WBC (white blood cells) and micro megakaryocytes. So, it is a myeloproliferative condition. Here, cli... Read Full »