Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) also formally known as Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is a condition where a patient has an overactive immune system. This over active immune system has latched on to healthy platelets and has commenced attacking those healthy platelets. When this happens, a patient can be left with a low platelet count.
Seeming as platelets are the sticky cells that bind together to prevent bleeding when they are in limited amounts there is an increased risk of that patients’ blood being unable to clot.
Therefore the most dangerous complication for an ITP patient is bleeding, in particular bleeding on the brain as that can be the most fatal.
Not to mention treatments for ITP can have more risks then the ITP condition itself. Corticosteroids and their long-term use can cause serious side effects such as;
osteoporosis
cataracts
a loss of muscle mass
an increased risk of infection
diabetes
Then there is also the option to remove the ITP patients spleen, which once the spleen is removed the patient has now been exposed to a permanent increased risk of bacterial infections and the risk of becoming seriously ill if they get an infection.
They say for the majority of people who have ITP the condition itself is not serious or life threatening and that majority of cases are managed successfully with conventional treatments.
So what are the warning signs for low platelets?
Easy Bruising
Red or purple dots on the skin
Prolonged bleeding from cuts
Bleeding from gums or nose
Blood in urine or stool
Unusually heavy menstrual flow
Fatigue
Jaundice
They are still searching for a cure for ITP therefore the only option right now for ITP patients are re-active form of treatments when your platelets get too low. Meaning, the only pro-active thing you can do at this stage is to know your warning signs and listen to your body.