Question
My child is nine months old and has a fever along with a viral influenza and throat ulcers. After being hospitalized for six days and discharged, the platelet count was found to be abnormally high. The doctor suspects it might be ‘Kawasaki disease,’ but no related symptoms were observed. What could be the cause?
Answer
During a fever, platelet counts may temporarily increase. It is recommended to recheck the platelet count after treatment. If the platelet count is too high (usually over 700), consider medication treatment. However, these medications may have an impact on the child’s growth and development, so a balance of benefits and risks needs to be considered. In addition, laboratory errors and blood concentration may also cause the test results to be higher than normal.