ITP, also known as Immune Thrombocytopenia, is a blood disorder that presents with low platelet counts. Platelets are the cells in our blood responsible to prevent bleeding and to help heal scars. Normal platelet counts range between 1.5 to 4.0 lakhs. ITP is a condition that causes platelet counts to be low and if undiagnosed at the right time, can lead to severe bleeding that can sometimes even be life-threatening.

Symptoms of ITP usually include easy bruising, small red spots in the skin called petechiae, bleeding from gums or nose, blood in urine or stools or heavy menstrual bleeding in women.

Patients with low platelet counts on routine testing hence need to undergo a thorough evaluation by a specialist, most often Hematologists who diagnose blood disorders. It is extremely important to rule out other causes of low platelets before making a diagnosis of ITP.

The exact cause for ITP is not known, but it mostly arises due to some disturbances in our immune system, that causes the destruction of platelets. It can be accurately diagnosed with a few blood tests and treated with good response. Some patients with ITP, and not very low platelet counts can even be observed without any treatment. However, if platelet counts are below the range of 30,000, patients will need treatment failing which severe bleeding can happen in the abdomen or in the skull. Often, to complete the diagnosis, a small test called Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy maybe performed by the Hematologist.

Once diagnosed, patients are either advised to stay on regular follow up or started on simple oral medications called immunosuppressive medications. If the condition is not diagnosed or treated in time, it can also lead to severe and life-threatening bleeding especially in the abdomen or in the brain.