Reasons to pay attention to ITP Awareness Month

If you’re wondering what ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) is, you’re certainly not the only one. This platelet disorder does not get the same attention other immune system issues do, which is why September has been dubbed National ITP Awareness Month.

ITP is classified as a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), meaning it affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Even so, ITP can affect anyone of any age, though females and children just overcoming an infection tend to be the most susceptible.

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What causes ITP?

The exact cause of ITP is unknown. The Mayo Clinic indicates children tend to develop idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after a viral infection and usually recover fully without treatment. Adults with ITP most commonly have chronic issues lasting months to years and often reoccurring throughout an individual’s lifetime.

“In most cases, the cause of ITP is unknown,” states The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It is not contagious, meaning a child cannot “catch it” from playing with another child with ITP. It’s also important to know that nothing the parents, nor the child, did caused the disorder. Often, the child may have had a virus or viral infection about three weeks before developing ITP. Experts believe that the body, when making antibodies against a virus, “accidentally” also made an antibody that can stick to the platelet cells. The body recognizes any cells with antibodies as foreign cells and destroys them. That is why ITP is also referred to as immune thrombocytopenic purpura.”

Individuals with ITP create antibodies that attach, mistakenly, to platelets in the body, triggering the spleen to filter those platelets out as if they were invading pathogens. The lack of platelets, responsible for blood clotting, manifests as easy bruising in individuals with ITP, but if platelet counts get too low, internal bleeding may occur even without any injury.

“Platelets are essential for the formation of a blood clot. Blood clots consist of a mass of fibers and blood cells. Platelets travel to a damaged area and stick together to form a plug, whenever a person is cut, for example. If there are not enough platelets, a clot cannot be formed, resulting in more bleeding,” indicates The Children’s Hospital.

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How is ITP treated?

In children, most cases of ITP resolve on their own or may require minimal intervention from a medical professional. Adults with chronic ITP also tend to require little treatment; most situations warrant platelet levels be monitored to ensure they do not drop below levels considered safe. Some individuals may need platelet’s given intravenously or may need to have their spleen removed. Though surgery is considered an extreme measure for this condition, removing the spleen immediately gets rid of the organ primarily responsible for platelet loss.

Overall, individuals with ITP need to be cautious when it comes to injuries. This means avoiding high-risk activities and wearing protective clothing when possible.