Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExcessive BruisingRed Spots on SkinBleeding From Nose or GumsUnusually Heavy Menstrual FlowBlood in Urine, Stool, or VomitHematomaFatigueBleeding From HeadWhen to See a Doctor or Go to the HospitalFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Excessive Bruising
Red Spots on Skin
Bleeding From Nose or Gums
Unusually Heavy Menstrual Flow
Blood in Urine, Stool, or Vomit
Hematoma
Fatigue
Bleeding From Head
When to See a Doctor or Go to the Hospital
Frequently Asked Questions
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a disorder in which the immune system inappropriately sees platelets as foreign in the body and destroys them. Platelets are a type of blood cell made in the bone marrow with thejobof helping the blood to clot, stop bleeding, and heal blood vessel walls.
In ITP, platelets are destroyed, causing the total number of platelets in the blood to decrease. Decreased platelets can lead to bleeding or bruising.
Learn more about ITP symptoms.
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When platelet counts in the blood are low, excessive bruising may occur, as there are not enough platelets to quickly stop bleeding.
These bruises are calledpurpura. Minor trauma, such as bumping the skin, may cause a bruise to develop. Some bruising may develop without any known injury or cause.
Low platelets from ITP do not allow the blood vessel wall to stop the blood from leaking.
Due to low platelets, bleeding may also occur from the gums in the mouth or from the nose.
Activities that normally do not cause bleeding, such as brushing the teeth or blowing the nose, may cause bleeding in someone with ITP. Small blood blisters in the mouth may also be seen.
Blood that is found in the urine, stool, or in vomit may be a sign of internal bleeding.
Although rare, bleeding may occur in the:
A lump or firm, raised area called ahematomamay develop when there is significant bleeding under the skin. This lump is a collection of clotted or partially clotted blood under the skin.
Fatiguein someone living with ITP can be due to multiple reasons:
It is very rare for someone with ITP to experience a bleed in the brain. However, there is a potential risk this could happen.
Symptoms of this would be similar tostroke symptoms, such as:
Emergency treatment should be sought out for any bleeding that cannot quickly be stopped or is severe. If stroke-like symptoms present, these should always receive immediate medical treatment.
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of ITP and TTP
Summary
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)—a disorder in which the immune system inappropriately sees platelets as foreign in the body and destroys them—can have many different symptoms. If you experience any ITP symptoms, it’s important to seek medical care.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSymptoms of ITP may include:Unusual bleedingExcessive bruisingFatigueIt is possible for ITP to cause no symptoms at all.The symptoms of ITP in children are similar to the symptoms of ITP in adults. In most children with ITP, the condition resolves within a year, sometimes without treatment. When ITP does not resolve—either spontaneously or with treatment after 12 months—it is called chronic ITP.ITP may make someone feel tired or worn out. It is possible that a person living with ITP doesn’t feel any differently than they normally do.Improving the symptoms of ITP generally occurs following treatment of ITP. The goal of treatment is to improve platelet counts, and when platelet counts increase, symptoms improve or resolve.There may be some overlap of symptoms in ITP andMDS, especially with low platelet counts, bleeding, bruising, or fatigue. However, with MDS, other types of cells such as white blood cells and red blood cells may be low, and these would cause additional symptoms such as weight loss, fever, frequent infections, and bone pain.
Symptoms of ITP may include:Unusual bleedingExcessive bruisingFatigueIt is possible for ITP to cause no symptoms at all.
Symptoms of ITP may include:
It is possible for ITP to cause no symptoms at all.
The symptoms of ITP in children are similar to the symptoms of ITP in adults. In most children with ITP, the condition resolves within a year, sometimes without treatment. When ITP does not resolve—either spontaneously or with treatment after 12 months—it is called chronic ITP.
ITP may make someone feel tired or worn out. It is possible that a person living with ITP doesn’t feel any differently than they normally do.
Improving the symptoms of ITP generally occurs following treatment of ITP. The goal of treatment is to improve platelet counts, and when platelet counts increase, symptoms improve or resolve.
There may be some overlap of symptoms in ITP andMDS, especially with low platelet counts, bleeding, bruising, or fatigue. However, with MDS, other types of cells such as white blood cells and red blood cells may be low, and these would cause additional symptoms such as weight loss, fever, frequent infections, and bone pain.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Immune thrombocytopenia.Cleveland Clinic.Immune thrombocytopenia.Cleveland Clinic.Abnormal menstruation (periods).Platelet Disorder Support Association.Living with ITP.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Immune thrombocytopenia.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Immune thrombocytopenia.Cleveland Clinic.Immune thrombocytopenia.Cleveland Clinic.Abnormal menstruation (periods).Platelet Disorder Support Association.Living with ITP.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Immune thrombocytopenia.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Immune thrombocytopenia.Cleveland Clinic.Immune thrombocytopenia.Cleveland Clinic.Abnormal menstruation (periods).Platelet Disorder Support Association.Living with ITP.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Immune thrombocytopenia.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Immune thrombocytopenia.
Cleveland Clinic.Immune thrombocytopenia.
Cleveland Clinic.Abnormal menstruation (periods).
Platelet Disorder Support Association.Living with ITP.
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Immune thrombocytopenia.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes.
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