Is immune thrombocytopenic purpura serious?

Is immune thrombocytopenic purpura serious?

In the majority of people with ITP, the condition isn’t serious or life-threatening. Acute ITP in children often resolves within six months or less without treatment. Chronic ITP can last for many years. People can live for many decades with the disease, even those with severe cases.

Is immune thrombocytopenic purpura life-threatening?

For most children and adults, ITP isn’t a serious or life-threatening condition. Acute ITP in children often goes away on its own within a few weeks or months and doesn’t return. In 80 percent of children who have ITP, the platelet count returns to normal within 6 to 12 months.

Is immune thrombocytopenic purpura curable?

Can ITP be cured completely? Chronic ITP isn’t curable. With chronic ITP, you’ll have remission periods when your symptoms improve for months or even years. But eventually chronic ITP symptoms recur.

How does immune thrombocytopenic purpura affect the body?

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a blood disorder characterized by a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are cells in the blood that help stop bleeding. A decrease in platelets can cause easy bruising, bleeding gums, and internal bleeding.

What causes primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura?

Immune thrombocytopenia usually happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys platelets, which are cell fragments that help blood clot. In adults, this may be triggered by infection with HIV , hepatitis or H. pylori — the type of bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

When should I be concerned about purpura?

Patients who experience purpura with any of the following symptoms should seek medical treatment: Low platelet count, which may lead to increased bleeding after an injury, bleeding gums or nose, or blood in urine or bowel movements. Sore, swollen joints, particularly in the ankles and knees.

What kind of doctor should I see for purpura?

Understanding Purpura Begins With A Professional Dermatologist.

What does autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura mean in medical terms?

It has also been called autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombocytopenia means a decreased number of platelets in the blood. Purpura refers to the purple discoloring of the skin, as with a bruise. ITP is a fairly common blood disorder that both children and adults can develop.

Can a chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura recur?

Chronic ITP can recur often and requires continual follow-up care with a blood specialist (hematologist). What causes idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura? In ITP, the immune system is stimulated to attack your body’s own platelets. Most often this is a result of antibody production against platelets.

How does thrombocytopenic purpura ( ITP ) help blood clot in children?

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Platelets help your blood clot by clumping together to plug small holes in damaged blood vessels. The antibodies attach to the platelets. The body destroys the platelets that carry the antibodies. In children, the disease sometimes follows a viral infection.

What kind of blood clotting disorder is ITP?

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting.