Stung by dengue, Hyderabad grapples to meet rising platelet demand

HYDERABAD: Though the severity of dengue cases has been less this time around, the spike in number of cases across the city has led to an increased demand for platelets.
Compared to last month when there were very few cases requiring transfusion, currently at least 20 distress calls for platelets are being seen each day across blood banks and donor groups in the city, doctors said.As per official figures, the number of cases so far this month has touched 1,500 in the city, continuing its upward trend.
Flagging the issue, Prashanth Ijjagiri from the Hyderabad Blood Donors Welfare Society tweeted, "Dengue cases are very high in the entire #Telangana From past 3 days we received more than 100+ platelet requests. Requirements are mostly from Hyderabad and Karimnagar (sic)."
Platelet transfusion is required only when the count drops below 15,000-20,000 and when there are symptoms such as nose bleeds, bleeding from gums, or heavy menstrual bleeding. The low platelet count affects the body's ability to clot blood and, hence, to stop the unusual bleeding a transfusion is required. In most dengue cases, once fever goes, platelet levels are restored.
According to blood banks, 7-10 cases requiring platelet transfusion are being seen each week at healthcare centres. While the requirement is being internally met in corporate hospitals, many patients are also asked to find donors.
"The demand for platelets is rising and we have seen a request on most days this week. Since most corporate hospitals prefer Single Donor Platelets, they are asking patients to be ready with a donor. They have advanced machines which are used for collecting platelets and for transfusion at hospital. Patients are approaching us for donors. We are able to arrange it through our list of platelet donors," said K Pitchi Reddy, director, Red Cross Blood Bank, Hyderabad.