Is dengue the cause of thrombocytopenia? : Dr. Liyaqat Ali Mansury 

Thrombocytopenia is the lack of platelets in the blood. In this condition, the number of platelets in the blood decreases. The normal number of platelets in the blood is 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter or 150 to 400 × 10 9 /L. It can be fatal if it is very low.

The following symptoms can occur when platelets are low__

Bleeding can occur from any part of the body. There may be small reddish brown purple spots on the skin, bleeding can occur from the nose or mouth, gums, brain or intestines, anus, vagina. Fatigue, weakness, fever, stomach ache, headache, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, there may be scratch marks after minor injury.

 The causes of low platelets can be__

Dengue, vitamin B12 or iron deficiency, excessive alcohol consumption, some pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia in pregnancy, leukemia and other cancer diseases that affect the bone marrow. Infections such as HIV, hepatitis C, mononucleosis or a bacterial infection throughout the body (sepsis) or any medicine.

Functions of platelets__

Platelets are small blood cells that circulate in the bloodstream and help blood to clot, so bleeding occurs when there is a deficiency of them. They are made in the bone marrow like other blood cells. Platelets are also called thrombocytes.

Dengue Fever __
The dengue virus (DENV) causes dengue fever. It is a mosquito-borne, single positive-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. Its genus is Flavivirus.

In some people with dengue fever, platelets are destroyed in large numbers by the dengue virus, which continuously decreases their number because it suppresses the bone marrow (which is the site of platelet production).

Unani Medicine __
1. In case of dengue or a decrease in the number of platelets, __ blood transfusion should be done. Also, eat leafy vegetables, iron-rich foods, pulses, pumpkin seeds, papaya, dairy products, etc., give food rich in omega-3, vitamins and other minerals, Tulsi, Neem Giloy, Papaya leaf juice, raw goat milk, raisins, etc.

2. In case of deficiency of heamoglobin, __ Sharbat Faulad will be given and in case of bleeding, Sharbat Anjbar will be given.

 3. In case of cancer, herbal Unani treatment is done and medicines to increase the number of platelets are given.
4 .In case of enlarged spleen, platelets may get trapped or destroyed in the enlarged spleen, for this, Sharbat Tihali will be given.