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- ITP is a bleeding disorder that can lead to bruising and bleeding that is hard to stop.
- In people with ITP, the blood does not clot as it should.
- ITP is caused by a low number of platelets in the blood. Platelets help blood clot and stop bleeding.
- The low number of platelets in ITP occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys platelets. The reason for this is not known.
- People with ITP may have signs of bleeding, such as bruises (purpura) that appear for no reason, or tiny red dots (petechiae) visible on the skin.
- Bleeding in ITP can also occur in the form of nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual bleeding, blood in the urine, or blood in the stool. The most dangerous bleeding from ITP is in the brain, but this is very rare.
- ITP can affect children and adults of all ages. More women than men get ITP.
- There are two types of ITP: acute ITP, which mostly affects children but does occasionally affect adults, and chronic ITP, which mostly affects adults but does occasionally affect children.
- In children, the illness is usually temporary (acute ITP) and often occurs following an infection caused by a virus. Most get well quickly without any treatment.
- Adults with ITP have the long-lasting (chronic) form of ITP, but symptoms can vary a great deal, and some with mild ITP do not need treatment.
- ITP is not the only cause of low platelets (thrombocytopenia), so diagnosis includes ruling out other possible causes of low platelets.
- Treatment depends on the type and severity of the illness. Those with more severe symptoms are usually treated at first with medicines such as steroids.
- The spleen is sometimes removed if treatment with medicine fails to keep the platelet level high enough to prevent bleeding.
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