Who is at Risk of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ?

What is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

A condition that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding is known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The bleeding is a result of unusually low level of platelets, which are the cells that help the blood to clot. ITP which is also known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura affects adults as well as children. In children the condition often develops after a viral infection and they normally recover fully without treatment. But in adults the disorder often remains chronic.

Risk Factors of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

The condition can occur at almost any age. However, there are few factors that can increase your risk of suffering from the condition. Following are few those reasons:

• Gender: women are twice at the risk of developing ITP than men.
• Viral infection: if a child has recently suffered from viral illness like mumps, measles or a respiratory infection, they are also at a risk.

Treatment for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

The motive of treating ITP is to make sure that the platelet count is normal and to prevent bleeding complications while minimizing the side effects. In children who suffer from ITP the condition runs its course without the need for treatment. Almost 80 percent of children with ITP recover completely within six months. Children who suffer from chronic ITP, recovery may still occur even after years later.