Many people do not know what disease they have and even ignore these symptoms.
Doctor Pham Lien Huong, Center for Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Bach Mai Hospital said that immune thrombocytopenic purpura is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks and destroys platelets, blood cells that play an important role in the blood clotting process. The decrease in platelet count makes it difficult for blood to clot, leading to the risk of bleeding inside or outside the body. If the disease is not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to severe bleeding, including brain or internal bleeding, which can be fatal...
Typical signs to recognize immune thrombocytopenic purpura include: Unexplained bruises; Bleeding under the skin, shown by small red spots on the skin; Blood in the urine or stool; Bleeding from the gums or nose; Menstruation that is longer or heavier than usual.
This is a rare disease, with an incidence of about 1/10,000 people. The disease can occur at any age but is more common in children and women. Children after viral infections; Women aged 20 - 40; People with other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis are groups at risk of the disease. Women are at higher risk than men, especially during reproductive age.
According to Dr. Huong, there are 3 groups of causes leading to immune thrombocytopenic purpura: Autoimmune: The immune system is disordered and produces antibodies that attack and destroy platelets; Infection or other diseases: Can be caused by HIV infection, hepatitis or H. pylori bacteria (bacteria that cause stomach ulcers). In children, thrombocytopenia can appear after viral infections such as mumps or flu. Or it is the result of other diseases such as lupus, bone marrow diseases (myelosuppression, acute leukemia, etc.); Drugs and vaccines: Some drugs and vaccines can trigger an autoimmune reaction, leading to immune thrombocytopenia.
There is currently no specific prevention for autoimmune thrombocytopenia. However, good management of other autoimmune diseases and avoidance of unnecessary medications may reduce the risk of developing the disease.
