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Platelets: For
Blood Clotting Platelet Count: Platelets are a part of the blood that
is needed for clotting. They travel to the site of an injury where they
"stick" to the injured site and help develop a clot or scab to stop the
bleeding. A normal platelet count is 150,000-440,000. Low platelet count
(thrombocytopenia) can be caused by HIV infection itself or by certain
drugs. Although a platelet count below 150,000 is considered low, most
people are not at risk of internal bleeding with counts of 50,000 or even
lower. However, because platelets are necessary for blood clotting, the
chance of major bleeding rises as the platelet count drops. If your platelet
count is low, your doctor may want to change your treatment, or may teach
you special precautions to prevent bleeding, like using a soft toothbrush or
electric razor. |