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Thrombocytopenia
| What is Thrombocytopenia? |
Some people suffer from abnormal bleeding, and the bleeding may not stop or a blood clot does not take place. The problem that this person is suffering from is known as Thrombocytopenia. This is a disorder relating from the low number of blood platelets in the body.
What are blood platelets?
The body is composed of mainly three types of blood cells; they are the red blood cells commonly known as the RBC, the white blood cells known as WBC and the blood platelets. The function of the blood Platelets is to make the blood to clot in case of an injury be it internal or external.
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Platelets are the most essential compound for the formation of blood clots. Platelets also play another important role; they prevent the leakage of red blood cells form an un-injured blood vessel.
When does Thrombocytopenia occur?
The blood platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 for every millimeter cube of blood for a healthy individual. For some it may lower down to a range where it may not be considered critical |
for the person, but if the case is accompanied with bleeding of the nose and other related symptoms like bleeding from the gums then an investigation needs to be done.
When the blood platelets are lost from the blood stream faster than it can be replaced by the bone marrow, the main manufacturing unit of the body for blood platelets, and then we can say the person is suffering from Thrombocytopenia. The bone marrow is located within the bone and this is the main place where the blood platelets are being produced.
In other terms Thrombocytopenia is a condition where the lost blood platelets are not being replaced by the bone marrow. This can take place due to excessive bleeding or for a patient who is suffering from a cancer of the blood.
Any mal function of the bone marrow also can cause this disorder. Another study has shown that build up of blood platelets outside the normal blood stream can also result in this condition. This type of condition is generally found in a patient with a large spleen.
Thrombocytopenia Symptoms :
Thrombocytopenia does not throw up any symptoms in a patient. However some of them may experience excessive bleeding when bruised, internal bruising, bleeding from the nose and oral bleeding. The oral bleeding may be bleeding from the gums. Some people affected by thrombocytopenia suffer from rashes; these appear as pinpoint red spots.
Can Thrombocytopenia be treated?
Thrombocytopenia can definitely be treated. But generally speaking thrombocytopenia does not warrant treatment, unless the blood count is very low due to excessive bleeding. Even in this case all one needs to undergo is a transfusion of the platelets. Bleeding disorders can also be treated by intranasal desmopressin. This is commonly known in medical circles as ddAVP.
Complications
Complications as a result of Thrombocytopenia are quite serious. The most serious case being; if it is not being identified correctly and remedial action is not being initiated. Generally what happen is internal bleedings, and this can take place anywhere in the body. So persons who are being treated for Thrombocytopenia should be quite careful about bleedings both internal and external. |
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