Immune thrombocytopenic purpura - ITP (Pediatrics - PEDS)

It is a hemorrhagic disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. People with the disease have very few platelets in their blood.

It occurs as a result of the production by certain cells of the immune system of antiplatelet antibodies that bind to the platelets, which are destroyed by the organism. Sometimes it occurs after a viral infection, with the use of certain drugs, during pregnancy or as part of an immune disorder. It affects women more often than men. It is more common in children than in adults.

Its clinical manifestations can occur with bleeding of easy onset, for example, abnormally abundant menstruations in women, bleeding in the skin (petechial rash), propensity to hematoma formation, nasal or buccal bleeding, etc.

The diagnosis is reached through medical questioning, physical examination. Additional tests performed will include blood tests and cultures, and may also do a bone marrow biopsy or an aspirate.

In children, the disease often goes away without treatment; however, some may need it. Adults usually start with an anti-inflammatory steroid called prednisone. In some cases, surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy) is recommended.