Immune Thrombocytopenia and ITP Treatment
Immune thrombocytopenia ITP is a type of bleeding disorder that happens due to blood components. Thrombocytopenia reduces the blood clotting ability due to low platelets in the blood. There is a sudden lowering in the blood platelets, which is present in small cells and bind together to help in blood clotting. Platelets are manufactured in your bone marrow like all other blood constituents. It is vital in blood clotting in the case of both minor and significant injuries.
In the absence of enough platelets, the blood lost his clotting ability that allows internal bleeding and external bleeding. People who is affected with low platelet count, red spots called bruises to appear on the skin that is a result of bleeding from small blood vessels. Sometimes these red spots look like a skin rash, but it may be due to thrombocytopenia. As a result of the inability in blood clotting as low platelet count, people also experience nose bleeding, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual bleeding in women, and others.
There are two types of ITP as-
Acute ITP (temporary or short-term)
- A most common type of ITP occurs due to viral infection
- It generally lasts less than six months; then it comes to its reasonable condition
- Majorly occurs in children and not considered as severe disease
Chronic ITP (long-lasting)
- Chronic ITP may differ from person to person, may last several years
- People with chronic ITP may live for long years
- At a certain point of time, having treatment, the patient achieves normal platelet count and no need any further treatment.
Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
Immune thrombocytopenia ITP treatment totally depends on the current patient condition and the number of platelet in their body and how often they bleed. A person who are suffering from mild ITP needs to take care of their symptoms rather than taking any treatment. In the case of acute ITP in children’s that commonly happens, they need some medical help. The whole treatment process depends on low platelet count and waits for their return at a normal count.
There is another type of ITP treatment which is done by platelet transfusion in the case of severe bleeding. Blood transfusion is done after hospitalization as the donor platelet is injected in the recipient’s bloodstream. It is the process where platelet count is suddenly reached to the desired level, which lasts either for a short time or a long time.
Physical examination and diagnosis tests
- There are some diagnosis may be done before platelet transfusion like CBC ( complete blood count) checks the number of blood components (RBC, WBC, and Platelet) present in the bloodstream.
- In the ITP condition, the low platelet count is experienced, but there is no change in RBCs and WBCs.
- In some cases, a blood smear test is also done to check the actual platelet count in the blood. As a drop of blood is placed on a glass slide, and examine the real blood components counts under the microscope.
Sign and Symptoms appear in Immune Thrombocytopenia ITP
ITP does not appear many signs and symptoms except internal and external bleeding due to low platelet count.
- Brushes appear on the skin, a mouth that sometimes called purpura (the result of bleeding under the skin).
- Red points similar to skin rashes may appear due to internal bleeding
- Nose bleed, bleeding gums, sometimes blood in urine and stool may experience.
- Female experience excess menstrual bleeding because of low platelet count
The bottom line about Immune Thrombocytopenia and ITP treatment
Immune thrombocytopenia does not cause any type of pain other than its symptoms. In both cases, the low platelet count experience in the patients’ bloodstream. When someone experiences these types of signs, you need to see a doctor rather than making changes in your lifestyle.
