Treatment of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
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Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is a condition, whereby a person gets bruising easily. A person gets bleeding easily as well. This condition develops if a person has low levels of platelets in the blood. Platelets are responsible for clotting the blood, which is vital for stopping bleeding and also for healing bruises quickly.
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura can develop both in children and adults. Interestingly, that it is much easier for children to recover from this condition completely, while for adults this condition can become long-term. Also, children usually recover without treatment. In children, the main cause of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is viral infection which affected the blood clotting process, namely levels of platelets in the blood. In adults, there can be mild and severe cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. In mild cases a person may not even notice that they have low levels of platelets. In severe cases, there is a risk of developing internal hemorrhage as a result of internal bleeding, that`s why it is essential to undergo treatment to avoid risks.
In children infections that most commonly trigger development of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura are flu and mumps. In adults idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura manifests itself as an autoimmune condition, when immune system starts to fight against itself. This condition is more common in women.
- Excessive brushing
- Frequent bleeding
- Nose bleeds
- Heavy periods for women
- Blood in urine in some cases
- Bleeding from the gums
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- During a general examination, the doctor will ask a person whether he/she had suffered from autoimmune condition before. In children the doctor will ask if there had been previous infections, such as mumps and flu
- Complete blood count is used to count the platelets in the blood
- Bone marrow exam is used sometimes, although it is more commonly used in adults to determine the exact cause of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- Conservative treatment includes prescription of drugs that boost production of platelets in the blood. In some cases, immunosuppressants can be prescribed to reduce the response of immune system. Also, a doctor can use injections which would boost the blood cell count.
- A surgery can be used to remove the spleen so that the platelets count is increased.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed