Diary 133: Platelet Disorder

One common platelet disorder is idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) or primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

It is a condition where one’s own antibodies attack and destroy platelets in one’s blood, increasing the risk of excessive bleeding as the level of platelets punge.

There are two types of ITP.

First, in children, there is the acute, self-limiting form that happens suddenly and often goes away even without treatment.

Second, in adults (more common in women than men), there is the chronic form that stays with the patient for years, as a cure for ITP is yet to be found.

The blood in people with ITP does not clot very well.

Patients will often complain of some bleeding in various parts of the body, a heavy flow when they are menstruating or bruises all over their body.

In sever cases, patients can experience serious haemorrhages (bleeding) that can be fatal.