Severe Thrombocytosis In A Nigerian Child With Sepsis: A Case Report And Review Of Literature.

Abstract

Sepsis is a common cause of morbidity in children and is significantly associated with aberrations in
platelet count. Although thrombocytopenia has been frequently reported in children with sepsis, thrombocytosis has also been observed in a number of children. We present a case of a 38 month old female with sepsis and severe thrombocytosis. Patient was admitted on account of fever and passage of watery stool. Full blood count revealed leucocytosis and markedly elevated platelet count. She was commenced on intravenous third generation cephalosporins (Rocephin) and gentamicin, as well as zinc gluconate and antipyretics. Thrombocytosis resolved after a 14-day course of antimicrobial therapy.

Conclusion: severe thrombocytosis can occur in children with sepsis and has a poor prognostic factor. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics causes a relief of thrombocytosis in quite a number of cases.