What is the medical meaning of ITP?

Overview. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets — the cells that help blood clot.

Is ITP a serious condition?

For most people with ITP, the condition isn’t serious or life-threatening. For example, acute ITP in children often resolves within 6 months or less without treatment. Chronic ITP, though, can last for many years. Still, people can live for many decades with the disease, even those with severe cases.

What happens when you have ITP?

Dangerous internal bleeding can occur when your platelet count falls below 10,000 platelets per microliter. Though rare, severe thrombocytopenia can cause bleeding into the brain, which can be fatal.

What are the two types of ITP?

ITP can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Acute ITP often lasts less than 6 months. It mainly occurs in children — both boys and girls — and is the most common type of ITP. Chronic ITP lasts 6 months or longer and mostly affects adults.

What is the most common cause of low platelets?

One of the most common causes of low platelets is a condition called immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). You may hear it called by its old name, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

What are 3 causes of thrombocytopenia?

What causes thrombocytopenia?

  • Alcohol use disorder and alcoholism.
  • Autoimmune disease which causes ITP.
  • Bone marrow diseases, including aplastic anemia, leukemia, certain lymphomas and myelodysplastic syndromes.
  • Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Is ITP a form of leukemia?

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is not cancer, although some confuse it with blood cancer (leukemia). If you have a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), your doctor will first rule out conditions, such as ITP, before thinking of blood cancer. Cancer treatments can also result in ITP.

What foods to avoid if you have low platelets?

What Not to Eat

  • Alcohol: Wine, liquor, and regular or nonalcoholic beer can lower platelet counts.
  • Refined grains, sugar, and foods or drinks with added sugar: These may cause fatigue and reduce platelet count.

Which fruits increase platelets?

Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, goji berries and blackberries are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants tend to neutralize the free radicals and thus help cope with the decrease in platelet count. Including berries in the diet may help in increasing platelet count.

Can ITP lead to death?

Yes, ITP can potentially be fatal. However, that could be said for virtually every disease, including many which are usually not very serious. Extremely rare but fatal complications can occur from strep throats, the common cold (which may lead to pneumonia), chickenpox, or what seems to be a mild case of indigestion.

What foods should you avoid with ITP?

Eat Less…

  • Canned and frozen foods and leftovers. The nutritional value of food deteriorates with time.
  • White flour, white rice and processed foods.
  • Hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated or trans-fats.
  • Sugar.
  • Dairy products.
  • Meat.
  • Alcoholic beverages.
  • Foods that can interfere with blood clotting.