What are the effects of a low platelet count?
There are no major problems if your child s platelet count is just under 150 x 109/l unless major surgery is planned, in which case their blood clotting efficiency would be further investigated. If your child s platelet count is 40 x 109/l or below, they may develop bruising and red pinprick spots on the skin (petechiae) particularly on their neck and waist. However, these are not usually serious and do not require treatment. If your child s platelet count is lower than 20 x 109/l, he or she could develop more serious bruising, and may be at risk of bleeding, including internal bleeding. The risk of bruising and bleeding also depends on what is causing the low platelet count. In some rare conditions, not only are there too few platelets circulating in the blood, but those that exist do not work properly. This leads to a higher risk of more severe bleeding, regardless of the platelet count itself.
