Supporting ITP Awareness Month

#Caution: This is a blog based on personal/familial experiences and meant only to make readers aware about ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura) on the occasion of ITP Awareness Month. It does not include medical advice or prescription.

September is the ITP Awareness Month organized by the Platelets Disorder Support Association (PDSA). This ITP Awareness Month focuses on raising awareness about ITP in local communities and connect ITP patients and caregivers, as well as healthcare professionals and pharmaceuticals. As my sister has chronic ITP, I have written this post to support the ITP Awareness Month and for awareness about ITP.

What is ITP?

ITP or Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura is a blood disorder where the blood platelets are lower than usual. The normal platelet count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter (mcL). Since platelets are involved in blood clotting, low platelets can result in bruising and excessive bleeding.

What are the types of ITP?

ITP can be of two types:

Acute ITP

This is the most common type of ITP that can occur at any age, although it is found mostly among children. It is a sudden onset during pregnancy or a viral disease such as chicken pox and dengue. Acute ITP usually goes away in a few weeks, and medication may not be required.

Chronic ITP

Chronic ITP is rarer than its acute variant and can occur from any age, even though it is more common in adults. It can last for over six months to decades, and sometimes, lifetime. Chronic ITP patients require constant medical care, and may require regular medication.

What causes ITP?

ITP is caused by the immune system attacking the platelets mistaking it for a foreign object like virus. Such a disorder can be triggered by:

• Medicines that may cause allergic reaction against platelets
• Viral infections such as chicken pox, dengue, HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis C.
• Immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
• Low-grade lymphoma and leukaemia
• Pregnancy

How to identify ITP?

Symptoms

ITP is often characterized by the following symptoms:

• Easy bruising or purple areas on the skin called purpura caused by bleeding under the skin. Bruises may occur for no apparent reason. 
• Tiny red dots (petechiae) caused by tiny bleeds.
• Nosebleed
• Bleeding in mouth, or in and around your gums
• Feeling tired
• Heavy menstrual flow
• Blood in vomit, urine, or stool
• Bleeding in the head/brain. A head injury for an ITP patient can be fatal.

Diagnosis

ITP is diagnosed through:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This test checks the number of all the blood components: red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets in the blood. A patient with ITP often has normal RBC and WBC counts, but low platelet count, i.e. lower than 150,000 per mcL.
• Peripheral blood smear: This test is a follow-up to an abnormal CBC. It checks different types of blood cells, in particular platelets for ITP.
• Bone marrow tests: Bone marrow is where blood corpuscles form. Testing bone marrow identifies whether it is healthy and making enough platelets.

How is ITP treated?

Treatment of ITP includes the use of oral and intravenous steroids, antibodies, bone marrow boosters, or removal of spleen (splenectomy). Treatments often have different effects on different patients, some working effectively while others not showing any improvement at all.

Why is ITP Awareness Required?

PSDA is an organization established in Ohio, U.S., that frequently organizes programmes related to ITP Awareness. Patients of ITP and their caregivers often have to go through a lot of stress because they need constant care and monitoring. Also, in countries like the U.S. bruises brought about by ITP can be mistaken for domestic violence. Raising awareness about ITP among the public is necessary to encourage patients and make their care and treatment hassle-free. It also makes communities and authorities more compassionate.

What happens during the ITP Awareness Month?

PSDA has the following announcements about the ITP Awareness Month:

• September 1 to 21, the ITP Awareness Month: Encouraging people living with ITP to share their experiences on social media.
• September 22 to 28, the Global ITP Awareness Week: Reaching out about ITP globally.
• September 26th Sport Purple for Platelets! Day: Purple is the colour of sampler used to collect blood for platelet count. The purple ribbon in the image also symbolizes platelets. On this day, the PSDA urges everyone to wear purple to support the ITP awareness.

The activities are detailed here: Patient and Caregiver Toolkit ITP Awareness Month