Health, Diseases and Conditions
Thrombocytopenia - what is it? Causes and symptoms of the disease
It's not a secret for anyone that platelets perform extremely important functions in the human body. But sometimes their blood level drops sharply, which is fraught with dangerous complications. So why does thrombocytopenia occur? What it is? What symptoms are accompanied by this disease? These questions will be of interest to many.
Thrombocytopenia - what is it?
The main causes of thrombocytopenia
In fact, there are many reasons that can cause a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. In modern medicine, they are divided into three main groups:
- Reducing the number of blood platelets may be associated with a decrease in their formation in the red bone marrow. Aplastic anemia, taking certain antibiotics, alcohol abuse, viral diseases (mumps, HIV, hepatitis), bacterial and fungal infections, hypoxia, metabolic disorders, certain congenital anomalies, and oncological diseases can lead to such a disorder.
- Thrombocytopenia can be caused by the accelerated destruction of platelets in the bloodstream. The causes in this case are autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, blood transfusion, taking certain medications, atherosclerosis, heart defects, burn disease, hypothermia, prolonged exposure to elevated atmospheric pressure.
- Incorrect redistribution of blood platelets, in particular, their retention in the tissues of the spleen, also lead to premature destruction. The cause in this case may be cancer, cirrhosis, some infections.
What are the main symptoms of thrombocytopenia?
- The mild form of the disease (the level of thrombocytes in the range of 30 to 50 thousand / μl) is manifested by frequent nasal bleeding, profuse menstruation in women, and a tendency to subcutaneous hemorrhage even with the slightest trauma.
- With thrombocytopenia of moderate severity, purpura appears on the skin - it is a characteristic hemorrhagic rash, which is a multiple but minor hemorrhage on the skin and mucous tissues.
- Especially dangerous is severe thrombocytopenia. What it is? With this form of pathology, the platelet count is below 20,000 / μL, which is fraught with massive bleeding, which is extremely difficult to stop. The most common complications are hemorrhages in the internal organs, in particular, in the digestive tract.
Methods of treatment of thrombocytopenia
At the slightest suspicion of such a disease you need to see a doctor and donate blood for analysis. Only a specialist can say why there was
Naturally, first you need to determine the cause. It is necessary to eliminate the primary disorder, which provoked the disease. Thrombocytopenia requires symptomatic treatment. In the presence of bleeding, they must be stopped. At the time of therapy, the patient needs rest and strict bed rest, which will reduce the likelihood of new hemorrhages. As first aid, immunoglobulins are used. Treatment includes the use of drugs that strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Inhibitors of fibrinolysis are effective.
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