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Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a low platelet count, leading to an increased risk of bruising, bleeding, and purpura on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies against platelets, causing their destruction, most commonly in the spleen. ITP can affect both children and adults; in children, it often follows a viral infection and is usually acute and self-limiting, while adults are more likely to develop chronic ITP, which persists for more than six months.

Diagnosis is based on finding isolated thrombocytopenia with normal white blood cell and hemoglobin levels, often by excluding other causes through blood tests and, sometimes, bone marrow biopsy. Symptoms include easy bruising, mucosal bleeding (such as nosebleeds), petechial rash, and heavy periods in women. Mild cases may only require observation, but severe or persistent cases need treatment options like corticosteroids, immunoglobulin therapy, and possibly splenectomy or thrombopoietin receptor agonists. Most children recover spontaneously, but chronic ITP in adults may require ongoing management.