Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura –ITP- is a blood clotting disorder which affects the platelets (blood cells) and causing in increased bleeding and easy bruising of the body.
The other name of platelets is thrombocytes. Platelets are one of the essential components for blood clotting, and the normal count is between 150000 to 450000 per cubic millimeter.
Platelets are produced in the bone marrow.
Causes of ITP
As the name indicates it is an autoimmune disorder. An antibody is produced by the immune system, and these antibodies get attached to platelets. These antibodies attached platelets when reaches into spleen gets destroyed, and the count of platelets goes down below normal. In ITP, the count of platelets may fall below 20000. However, when it falls down below 10000, it will cause bleeding into the internal vital organs even without an external injury. And this is a serious condition.
ITP may be acute affecting mostly children and usually starts after a viral infection. And in the majority of cases, it comes to normal after 5-6 months without any treatment.
Chronic ITP is seen in adults and like acute ITP it has also seen after a viral infection, or in pregnancy or after an autoimmune response.
Symptoms
Investigations
Complete blood count- shows marked reduction in total platelet count.
Test for bleeding time and clotting time. The bleeding time is prolonged, but clotting time is normal.
Bone marrow aspiration in rare cases
Homeopathic treatment
It, being an auto-immune disorder it needs a prolonged treatment. Homeopathic medicines can be tried as such or along with conventional treatment. It is clinically verified that homeopathic medicines like Arnica, Phosphorus, Lachesis, Crotalus, etc. work wonders to increase the count.
