You should worry if your platelets are low as it can be life threatening in some cases, especially if you have bleeding in your brain or other serious bleeding.
However low platelet count that is not too low may not be anything serious but you should still get checked out regularly.
The viral infections that cause low platelets are HIV, EBV, CMV, HCV as well as hantavirus, varicella zoster virus, herpes viruses, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
The cause of low platelet count are infections, autoimmune disease, inherited or acquired bleeding disorders, certain medications, liver disease, enlarged spleen or even an inherited immune deficiency or disorder.
Low platelet counts and thrombocytopenia are often caused by certain medications and medical conditions.
Foods that raise platelets are Pomegranate, Papaya leaf extract, leafy greens, pumpkin, wheatgrass, beetroot, Aloe Vera, Kiwi, cheese, Amla, Spinach, berries, Carrots, Folate, Lean Meats, Fish, foods with Iron, Foods with vitamin C, foods with vitamin K, Peas, Citrus Salad, Animal protein and Beef liver.
Medications that cause low platelets are Vancomycin, Tirofiban, Piperacillin, Heparin, Amiodarone, Abciximab, Statins, Quinine, Ranitidine, Quinidine, Penicillin, Furosemide, Carbamazepine, Sulfonamides and Linezolid.
Tylenol can also cause thrombocytopenia especially when overdosing on Tylenol.
Certain medications can cause a low platelet count, which can lead to excessive bleeding.
Heparin is the most frequent cause of low platelet count, but common drugs like acetaminophen and some antibiotics can also cause thrombocytopenia.
Thrombocytopenia is the condition that occurs when the platelet count in your blood is too low.
The platelets in your blood are tiny blood cells which are made in your bone marrow from larger cells.
When you are injured, the platelets stick together to form a plug to seal your wound.
Heparin, a blood thinner, is the most common cause of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia.
If a medicine prevents your bone marrow from making enough platelets, the condition is called drug-induced nonimmune thrombocytopenia.
Chemotherapy drugs and a seizure medicine called valproic acid may lead to this problem.
The 2 conditions that can cause low platelets thrombocytopenia are certain types of anemia and leukemia and other types of cancers.
Other conditions that can cause low platelets thrombocytopenia include.
Viral infections, such as hepatitis C or HIV.
Chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy.
Heavy alcohol consumption.
A low platelet count does sometimes mean leukemia although not always.
Low platelets can lead to leukemia and having low platelet counts can mean you have leukemia although it can also be a result of other conditions.
Leukemia on a blood test will look like abnormal levels of white blood cells and abnormally low red blood cell or platelet counts which can indicate leukemia.
You can live with leukemia for a few months to a few years without knowing it.
If you suspect leukemia you should get tested so that if you do have leukemia you can get treatment as soon as possible.