The name of the condition immune thrombocytopenic purpura makes it sound extremely scary and worrisome, but breaking it down helps individuals understand the condition better. The word thrombocytopenic means a reduced number of platelets in the blood. Purpura stands for a purple discoloration on the skin, usually caused by a bruise or an injury. In this disorder, the blood doesn’t clot normally, leading to the formation of bruises and bleeding. 4 to 8 children under the age of 15 years are affected by this condition in the U.S. every single year. Given below is more information on immune thrombocytopenic purpura, along with the early warning signs of the condition.

What is the cause of ITP?
The cause of this condition is unknown in most situations. However, it has been found that the condition is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another. ITP is also not genetic.

One plausible cause is a disease or illness that affected and weakened the immune system. Usually, 3 weeks before the condition occurs, there might be some kind of viral fever that affected the individual. When trying to make antibodies against a virus, the body could accidentally create an antibody against the platelets in the body. With time, these platelets get attacked by the body’s antibodies themselves and get destroyed. It has been seen through some research and studies that certain types of medication are capable of altering the platelet function, thereby leading to the development of ITP. However, a direct link has not yet been established.

What are the signs and symptoms of this condition?
The normal count of platelets which should be present in the body is between 150,000 and 450,000. In a child suffering from ITP, the platelet count drops below 100,000. If significant bleeding occurs in a child suffering from this condition, the platelet count may drop further to as low as 10,000. As the platelet count reduces, the chances of bleeding increase significantly. Some early warning signs of ITP are as follows:

• Presence of blood in vomit
• Bleeding in the mouth and around the gums
• Nosebleeds
• Tiny red dots under the skin
• The purple coloration of the skin indicating bleeding under the tissue
• Bleeding in the head — This is the most serious symptom of ITP. When there aren’t enough platelets present in the blood, bleeding from the head can turn out to be fatal if not handled immediately.

How can these signs be diagnosed?
A physical examination of the child and a thorough examination of the medical history is required to diagnose ITP. The following tests can be done to diagnose any of the early signs of this condition:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This test measures the number, size, and maturity of different blood cells in a certain volume of blood. This information will further help in determining the number of platelets.
• Blood and urine tests: Any possible infections leading to ITP can be detected and bleeding time can be measured through these tests.
• Bone marrow aspiration: Platelets are produced by the bone marrow and hence this test can help in understanding platelet production. This test aids in determining if any abnormal cells are being produced by the bone marrow, which is the cause for lowering the platelet count in the body.