I AM IN FREEKS FOR MY CHILD

[ALBATROSS94]

Last 3 -4 months ago i wrote here, That time just i understand from nothing happened to my child. From last months my daughters hip side skin got black round spot. We thought its a injury spot. Buy she not felt any pain. After few days its gone.  15 days ago morning she has cold, little bleeds from her nose. We afraid for it. That time her belly spoted 2 black spots with little bumpy,  we again thougt it is  injury.  After few days her belly sudden make a hard spot and turn it bkack and her back side also. Doctor said it is hematoma. The spot back side allready gone but today mkrning i noticed a black round spot on her leg. But not pain. I heard it is a sign of leukemia. Please let me know if you have experience. My daughter is very energetic. She has no other health issue. Recentle  a little lump grow in her arm area not under arm.

[Ken_PA]

Well, I can say what is good for adults on long term high dose steroids. I don't know how much, if anything, should be changed for children.

The first thing is that steroids increase blood sugar. Di they give to your daughter a blood glucose testing meter?

So the person should ideally have only "low glycemic" foods. That approach really works. You have to look up the numbers for each food, at a place like glycemicindex.com  It can be tricky and guessing about the numbers is not good enough.

The second thing is to reduce salt, because the steroids make a person retain sodium and therefore also retain water. Adults with high blood pressure especially have a problem with that.

Then there is also a tendency over a long period for the type of weight gain called "moon face" and you can find pictures of that.

But again, I have to say that I don't know how this applies to a growing child.

[ALBATROSS94]

Thanks Ken my daughter not like sugar. Now i just not give her also. Anything more to do please tell.

[Ken_PA]

Well, on second thought, that requires very strict diet control, like no sugar. Is that a possibility to accomplish?

[ALBATROSS94]

My daughter not like sugar. And alao take limited food. Still not get too much trouble from stroids. Little increased hunger habit. Anything more to do, please tell.

[Ken_PA]

Well that's good news in a way. Thanks for letting me know. It's even possible that she has a Drug Induced Thrombocytopenia. The most common drug to cause such a reaction is the blood thinner called heparin. It's not common to be from an antibiotic but it's possible.

Or maybe it's from an infection and the antibiotic helps her platelet numbers after all. Regardless, it's great news that her marrow is good.

Let me know if you want to talk about the ways to minimize bad side effects from the steroids.

[ALBATROSS94]

Thanks for your advise Ken. Let me know, how i minimize the side affect of storied. My daughter looks fine now. She has no other health issues.

[ALBATROSS94]

Thanks again for your reply. It seems she has ITP. You are right because 15 or 20 days ago she has 2 days high fever she gave azithromycine antibiotics. After that the bruises came and go. But again come. Bone marrow said she has no problem in blood cell production.

[Ken_PA]

Well, that drop in platelets was so far and so fast that it seems to me to be more likely from platelet destruction rather than from a blood cancer that got into the marrow. That's especially so because she once got an increase in low platelets from antibiotics. So maybe she has some bacteria tha is causing the low platelets.

I suppose though, that maybe they can't give a platelet transfusion until they rule out TTP.

My father had very low platelets down to 3,000. That was from ITP, where the immune system attacks the platelets.

I'm glad to hear that she isn't getting more bruising, probably from the steroids suppressing the immune system as you know. She can be on them for months. There are things to do to minimize side effects from the steroids.

Are you keeping her out of school just to make sure she doesn't get bumped? My best wishes are for you and your little daughter.

[ALBATROSS94]

Thanks for the ans. Her platelates count is 9000 only. 15 days ago 240000. Lab repeated test same day was 9000. yesterday allready done bone marrow test. Today give the result. I can't think more. Stroids given by doctor. No new bruises come. Little fever she has.thanks.

[Ken_PA]

Hi, Albatross. I hadn't answered before because you were asking if anyone had similar experience relating to leukemia.

I'm sorry to hear that she is having these problems. Is her platelet count 9,000 or 90,000? If only 9.000, I'd think she needs to have a transfusion of platelets. If she has a transfusion, it would be very useful to know if her platelet count stays high or else does it go back down rapidly.

She should be avoiding any blood thinners like fish oil and vitamin E.