Symptoms of ITP & How to Deal With Them in Ayurveda

ITP or Immune Thrombocytopenia is a rare bleeding disorder due to a low amount of platelets in the blood. It is also known as Immune or Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombocytopenia means a decrease in blood platelets. 

Purpura means purplish looking areas of the skin and mucous membranes.  It is one of the autoimmune diseases which results in the destruction of platelets due to which the patients have the tendency to bleed or bruise in excess. Platelets are produced in the bone marrow. They are needed to stop bleeding by clumping together to form a clot and seal the cuts or tears in the blood vessels and tissues. In case, there is a reduction of platelets in the blood (below 50,000), the wound won’t stop bleeding or will take longer to clot. Internal bleeding or bleeding on or under the skin can result.

ITP can be caused by certain medications, due to some infection, pregnancy, or other immune disorders. In majority cases, the cause of ITP is unknown so it is termed as Idiopathic. Genetic mutation can also cause thrombocytopenia.ITP is more common in young women and older men.  Children get ITP usually after a viral illness like chickenpox, mumps or measles. In children, ITP is acute as it lasts less than six months. In adults, the ITP is more chronic and last longer.

Symptoms of ITP

• The most prominent symptom of ITP is bleeding which can include ecchymosis or bruising and red dots on the skin or mucus membranes also called petechiae. Petechiae often looks like a rash.
• Frequent nose bleeding, bleeding from the mouth and gums, bleeding from digestive or urinary tract are also visible symptoms of low platelet count.
• Women experience abnormally heavy menstruation.
• There is prolonged bleeding from cuts and during surgery.
• The patient feels tired and has frequent headaches.
• In some case, the patient develops enlarged spleen which can lead to abdominal pain and tenderness.
• Jaundice or yellow color of skin is another common symptom.
• In rare cases, there is bleeding within the brain.
• ITP is diagnosed by the doctors after a complete physical exam and going through the patient's medical history. Blood tests and blood smear is done to confirm the disorder.