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Published on: January 31, 2018
Significance of platelet count in children admitted with bronchiolitis
Amar Al Shibli1, Najla Alkuwaiti1, May Hamie1
1Amar Al Shibli, Najla Alkuwaiti, May Hamie, Dima Abukhater, Muhammad B Noureddin, Abdulla Amri, Salwa Al Kaabi, Aysha Al Kaabi, Mariam Harbi, Department of Pediatrics, Tawam Hospital, PO Box 15258, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Insights
Thrombocytosis, or high platelet count, is common in infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis. This condition did not correlate with disease severity or serious blood clot complications in the study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection in infants.
- Thrombocytosis, an elevated platelet count, is a potential complication of various pediatric illnesses.
- The prevalence and clinical significance of thrombocytosis in bronchiolitis remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of thrombocytosis in infants under two years old hospitalized with bronchiolitis.
- To investigate the association of thrombocytosis with risk factors, disease severity, and thromboembolic complications in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 305 infants (<2 years) hospitalized for bronchiolitis.
- Data collected included platelet counts, clinical outcomes, disease severity indicators, and thromboembolic/hemorrhagic complications.
- Thrombocytosis defined as platelet count > 500 × 10^9/L.
Main Results:
- Thrombocytosis occurred in 29% of infants, more frequently in younger infants.
- No significant association was found between thrombocytosis and illness duration, admission temperature, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, length of stay, or ICU admission.
- No deaths, thrombotic events, or hemorrhagic complications were observed.
Conclusions:
- Thrombocytosis is a frequent finding in young children hospitalized with bronchiolitis.
- In this cohort, thrombocytosis was not linked to increased disease severity or adverse thromboembolic outcomes.
Aim:
To determine the true prevalence of thrombocytosis in children less than 2 years of age with bronchiolitis, its association with risk factors, disease severity and thromboembolic complications.
Methods:
A retrospective observational medical chart review of 305 infants aged two years or less hospitalized for bronchiolitis. Clinical outcomes included disease severity, duration of hospital stay, admission to pediatric intensive care unit, or death. They also included complications of thrombocytosis, including thromboembolic complications such as cerebrovascular accident, acute coronary syndrome, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, mesenteric thrombosis and arterial thrombosis and also hemorrhagic complications such as bleeding (spontaneous hemorrhage in the skin, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal, respiratory, or genitourinary tracts).
Results:
The median age was 4.7 mo and 179 were males (59%). Respiratory syncytial virus was isolated in 268 (84%), adenovirus in 23 (7%) and influenza virus A or B in 13 (4%). Thrombocytosis (platelet count > 500 × 109/L) occurred in 88 (29%; 95%CI: 24%-34%), more commonly in younger infants with the platelet count declining with age. There was no significant association with the duration of illness, temperature on admission, white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein concentration, length of hospital stay or admission to the intensive care unit. No death, thrombotic or hemorrhagic events occurred.
Conclusion:
Thrombocytosis is common in children under two years of age admitted with bronchiolitis. It is not associated with disease severity or thromboembolic complications.
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