Word parts
What it means
Too few plateletPLAYT-litA tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.Full entry in the blood. Platelets help blood clot, so a low count causes easy bruising, tiny red-purple spots on the skin (petechiae), nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bleeding that is hard to stop. Causes include chemotherapy, bone marrow disease, some drugs (for example heparinHEP-uh-rinAn anticoagulant drug, given by injection or IV, that keeps blood clots from forming or growing.Full entry ) and conditions that use up or destroy platelets.
For the nurse
Use bleeding precautions: a soft toothbrush, an electric razor, no IM injections if possible, and pressure on puncture sites for longer. Check skin, gums, urine and stool for bleeding, and avoid aspirin and NSAIDs. Report a falling count or new bleeding.
In a chart
"Platelets 42,000/mm3; scattered petechiae on lower legs; bleeding precautions in place."
Remember it
-penia means "poor in": thrombocytopenia is blood poor in platelets.
At a glance
| Normal range | Platelets 150,000–400,000/mm3 [150–400 × 10^9/L] |
|---|---|
| Spanish | trombocitopenia |
Related terms
platelet
A tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.
cyt/o
A word part that means cell.
heparin
An anticoagulant drug, given by injection or IV, that keeps blood clots from forming or growing.
bone marrow
The soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells.
thromb/o
A word part that means blood clot.