Nothing to do with ITP but I know you are all good at blood test results

Hi, I'm hoping one of you blood test experts might throw some light on this. Myoungest son, Dougie's 17 year old brother, was admitted to hospital a few weeks back. He was quite ill for a day or two with what the hospital said was probably a virus, and he also had an enlarged spleen and a lack of platelets (I think this might be my family's Achilles heel!). He just got his discharge letter through the post and there are a few weird blood results that I don't recognise because Dougie has only ever had a low platelet problem, so I wondered if any one here did! CRP was 116 which was way above the reference range (0-7), platelets were 54, eosinophils were high at 0.71 (0.04-0.4), and lymphocytes low at 0.82 (1.0-4.0). I don't know what these things mean! He hasn't had a follow up appt through yet, so I have no idea whether he can go back to practising judo safely (he has anyway) or playing footie ( again he has done). Thanks in advance if anyone can enlighten me.
Alison

Hi Alison. I don't know what all of those tests mean in relation to one another. All I know is that an elevated CRP indicates inflammation. Hopefully it was just a virus and follow-up labs will be normal again. Let us know!

Alison

Disregarding the platelet count the other results are more than likely due to the virus.
Anne

Thanks both The hospital was really vague about what the problem had been and it's made me worry. I need to chase up some follow up appts because they said he needed a scan of his spleen and follow up bloods.

How is he feeling? If he feels better, I'd chalk it all up to a virus unless follow-up labs indicate otherwise. It's good that they are being thorough.

if it was me i'd call up the hospital and tell them your concerns. also the doctor who saw the kid makes up a report. you can get that from the records department and it will have on there what he thinks is going on with the boy. a doctor can not just order tests without writing down why they are necessary all of that is in his report. a copy of that report is also mailed to the family doctor.

Sandi, he's fine other than being unusually tired
John, We've had the discharge letter but it just says something like "suspected virus". I think I just neeed to wait for the follow up blood test and scan, but the NHS seems to have it's own timetable when it comes to arranging these things!