If your child has thrombocytopenia, try to protect him or her from injuries, especially head injuries that can cause bleeding in the brain. Ask your child's doctor whether you need to restrict your child's activities. If you've had your spleen removed, you may be more likely to become ill from certain types of infection.
Watch for fever or other signs of infection and report them to your doctor promptly. People who have had their spleens removed may need vaccines to prevent certain infections. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research.
What Is - Thrombocytopenia. Overview When your blood has too few platelets, mild to serious bleeding can occur. Many factors can cause a low platelet count, such as: The body's bone marrow doesn't make enough platelets. The bone marrow makes enough platelets, but the body destroys them or uses them up.
The spleen holds on to too many platelets. The spleen is an organ that normally stores about one-third of the body's platelets. It also helps your body fight infection and remove unwanted cell material. A combination of the above factors. How long thrombocytopenia lasts depends on its cause. It can last from days to years.
Outlook Thrombocytopenia can be fatal, especially if the bleeding is severe or occurs in the brain. Causes - Thrombocytopenia. In general, a low platelet count occurs because: The body's bone marrow doesn't make enough platelets. A combination of the above factors also may cause a low platelet count. Many conditions and factors can damage stem cells. Cancer Cancer, such as leukemia lu-KE-me-ah or lymphoma lim-FO-ma , can damage the bone marrow and destroy blood stem cells.
Aplastic Anemia Aplastic anemia is a rare, serious blood disorder in which the bone marrow stops making enough new blood cells. Toxic Chemicals Exposure to toxic chemicals—such as pesticides, arsenic, and benzene—can slow the production of platelets. Medicines Some medicines, such as diuretics and chloramphenicol, can slow the production of platelets. Common over-the-counter medicines, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, also can affect platelets. Alcohol Alcohol also slows the production of platelets.
Viruses Chickenpox, mumps, rubella, Epstein-Barr virus, or parvovirus can decrease your platelet count for a while. Genetic Conditions Some genetic conditions can cause low numbers of platelets in the blood. Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune diseases occur if the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body.
Other autoimmune diseases that destroy platelets include lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Medicines A reaction to medicine can confuse your body and cause it to destroy its platelets. Infection A low platelet count can occur after blood poisoning from a widespread bacterial infection. Surgery Platelets can be destroyed when they pass through man-made heart valves, blood vessel grafts, or machines and tubing used for blood transfusions or bypass surgery. Pregnancy About 5 percent of pregnant women develop mild thrombocytopenia when they're close to delivery.
In both conditions, the blood clots use up many of the blood's platelets. Risk Factors - Thrombocytopenia. Screening and Prevention - Thrombocytopenia. For example: Avoid heavy drinking. Alcohol slows the production of platelets. Try to avoid contact with toxic chemicals. Chemicals such as pesticides, arsenic, and benzene can slow the production of platelets.
Avoid medicines that you know have decreased your platelet count in the past. Be aware of medicines that may affect your platelets and raise your risk of bleeding. Talk with your doctor about getting vaccinated for viruses that can affect your platelets.
You may need vaccines for mumps, measles, rubella, and chickenpox. You may want to have your child vaccinated for these viruses as well.
Talk with your child's doctor about these vaccines. Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Thrombocytopenia. Purpura and Petechiae. Diagnosis - Thrombocytopenia. Once thrombocytopenia is diagnosed, your doctor will begin looking for its cause. Medical History Your doctor may ask about factors that can affect your platelets, such as: The medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines and herbal remedies, and whether you drink beverages that contain quinine.
Your general eating habits, including the amount of alcohol you normally drink. Your risk for AIDS, including questions about blood transfusions , sexual partners, intravenous IV drugs, and exposure to infectious blood or bodily fluids at work. Any family history of low platelet counts. Physical Exam Your doctor will do a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms of bleeding, such as bruises or spots on the skin.
Diagnostic Tests Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to help diagnose a low platelet count. The spleen is a small organ about the size of your fist situated just below your rib cage on the left side of your abdomen. Normally, your spleen works to fight infection and filter unwanted material from your blood. An enlarged spleen — which can be caused by a number of disorders — can harbor too many platelets, which decreases the number of platelets in circulation.
Platelets are produced in your bone marrow. Factors that can decrease platelet production include:. Some conditions can cause your body to use up or destroy platelets faster than they're produced, leading to a shortage of platelets in your bloodstream. Examples of such conditions include:. Dangerous internal bleeding can occur when your platelet count falls below 10, platelets per microliter. Though rare, severe thrombocytopenia can cause bleeding into the brain, which can be fatal.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. Your doctor may recommend that you take measures to prevent your condition from worsening. This could include:. Not everyone with a low platelet count needs treatment. Some conditions that cause a low platelet count will eventually clear up.
The platelet count will return to healthy levels in those cases. However, people with severe cases may need treatment. Sometimes, a low platelet count can be fixed by treating the underlying cause. Your doctor will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that helps you manage your symptoms. White blood cells, or WBCs, are an important part of your immune system. They help fight infections by attacking bacteria, viruses, and germs. Blood cell disorders impair the formation and function of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.
Blood poisoning is a serious infection. It occurs when bacteria are in the bloodstream. Despite its name, the infection has nothing to do with poison…. The test is usually part of a complete blood count…. Learn about causes, treatment, and…. Learn more about what a platelet aggregation is used for and how you can prepare.
Primary thrombocythemia is a rare blood clotting disorder. Find information on causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. World J Hepatol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Low platelet count. January Izak M, Bussel J. Management of thrombocytopenia.
FPrime Rep. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia: Update of clinical and laboratory data. Am J Hematol. Nagalla S, Sarode R. Recent advances in understanding and management of acquired thrombocytopenia.
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Genetic Causes. Platelet Dysfunction or Destruction. Decreased Platelet Production. Enlarged Spleen. What to Do If Bleeding Starts. Normal: Between , and , platelets per microliter of blood Low: Below , platelets per microliter Mild bleeding risk: Below 50, platelets per microliter Serious bleeding risk: 10, to 20, platelets per microliter or lower.
What Is Immune Thrombocytopenia? Recap Many conditions can cause a decrease in the production of platelets. It is important to call your healthcare provider at once if you have any of the following symptoms: Headache, confusion, or dizziness Blood when you cough or difficulty breathing Blood in your urine, vomit, or stool Vaginal bleeding after menopause or unusually heavy vaginal bleeding. Recap You can limit the problems caused by low platelets by taking steps to avoid injury.
Recap If you have a low platelet count and you begin bleeding, call your doctor right away. Recap When the cause is known, low platelets will usually resolve with treatment. An Overview of Platelet Disorders. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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