Platelets

Looks like

Cell fragments smaller than red cells, millions in each drop of blood.

What it does

Plug leaks in seconds and start the clotting cascade.

Keeping it well

Nothing routine; easy bruising or gum bleeding needs a count, and blood thinners work here.

Related conditions

• African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
• Aplastic anaemia & marrow failure
• Clotting disorders (thrombophilia & APS)
• Dehydration & electrolyte disorders
• Delirium
• Dengue & mosquito-borne fevers
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Ebola virus disease
• Essential thrombocythaemia
• G6PD deficiency (favism)
• Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Hereditary spherocytosis
• High cholesterol
• Immune thrombocytopenia
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Maternal (puerperal) sepsis
• MRSA and resistant staph infection
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Neonatal sepsis
• Neutropenic sepsis
• Postpartum haemorrhage
• Scrub typhus & rickettsial infections
• Sepsis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Typhoid & cholera
• Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Von Willebrand disease