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Unusual hematologic disease affecting Caucasian children traveling to Southeast Asia: acquired platelet dysfunction

Anselm Chi-Wai Lee1

  • 1Children's Haematology and Cancer Centre, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.

Hematology Reports
|May 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of acquired platelet dysfunction with eosinophilia in a child traveling from Indonesia highlights the link between parasitic infections and bleeding disorders. Prompt antihelminthic treatment resolved symptoms, emphasizing its importance for travelers.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Tropical Medicine
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Acquired platelet dysfunction can manifest with bleeding symptoms.
  • Eosinophilia is an elevation in eosinophil count, often associated with parasitic infections or allergic reactions.

Observation:

  • An 11-year-old boy returning from Indonesia presented with a 5-month history of recurrent bruising and ecchymosis.
  • Clinical evaluation revealed hypereosinophilia (7.4×10(9)/L) and microscopic observation of gray platelets, with normal platelet count.

Findings:

  • Platelet aggregation tests confirmed a storage pool disorder, supporting the diagnosis of acquired platelet dysfunction with eosinophilia.
  • The patient's bleeding symptoms and eosinophilia resolved completely within one month of completing antihelminthic therapy.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering parasitic infections in travelers presenting with unexplained bleeding disorders and eosinophilia.
  • Hematologists should be aware of this unusual presentation in individuals returning from endemic areas like Southeast Asia.
  • Antihelminthic therapy can be an effective treatment for this condition.

Keywords:
acquired platelet dysfunctioneosinophiliahemorrhagethrombocytopathy.

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