Dengue platelet count normal range

Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are a blood component. Their main function is to prevent blood clotting.When a person's platelets start falling during dengue, blood clotting starts to occur.

The normal platelet count in a healthy person is between 1.5 to 4 lakhs and when a person has dengue, the platelet count can fall below 1.5 lakh.

(Read More: Dengue Test)

For reference, some levels of the platelet count are given below:

• Normal: More than 100,000 platelets
• Medium: Between 40,000-100,000 platelets
• Risk: Between 21,000-40,000 platelets
• High risk: Less than 20,000 platelets

(Read more: Dengue diet)

When the Aedes mosquito bites a human, the dengue virus enters the blood and binds to the platelets. Due to this, the platelets become infected. Infected platelet cells destroy the normal platelets, due to which the platelet count starts falling in dengue fever. During this process, the cells that fight against the dengue virus as our body's natural defence system destroy normal platelets, thinking that they are infected.

If platelets start decreasing during dengue, then a nutritious and complementary diet can help the infected person increase their platelet count again. But, as established earlier, if the platelet count in dengue becomes very low, a doctor should be contacted immediately.

(Read more: Ayurvedic medicine for Dengue)

There are some foods that can help you increase platelet count in dengue:

• Folate-rich foods
• Foods rich in Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Vitamin K
• Iron-rich foods

(Read more: Homeopathic medicine for Dengue)

In dengue, if a person's platelet count is only slightly less than normal, the symptoms are not very visible. But if this number keeps on decreasing, then the person may start to see small amounts of bleeding on the body. These hemorrhages can appear as small, round, dark red spots on the skin. They are also known as petechiae. I the platelet count in a person's body becomes less than 20,000 per μl, then you may notice bleeding gums, nosebleeds or blood in the stool and blood in urine.

The fall in platelet count during dengue can be fatal. In such cases, it is necessary for the patient to contact their doctor immediately. No natural treatment is effective if there are less than 20,000 platelets remaining in the body.