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Immune Thrombocytopenia

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Benign Hematologic Disorders in Children

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Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by a quantitative platelet defect due to autoantibodies directed against platelet surface antigens. Childhood ITP generally follows a viral illness. Diagnosis is made by a thorough history, physical examination, complete blood count (CBC) evaluation, and peripheral smear review to rule out other diagnoses. Additional laboratory testing is usually not necessary but may be done if the clinical scenario points toward a secondary cause for ITP. For mild bleeding, defined as cutaneous bleeding only, observation along with parental education is sufficient. Medical interventions are recommended in case of mucosal bleeding, parental anxiety, or high activity level of the child. Serious, life-threatening hemorrhagic events are rare in childhood ITP. In an office setting, pediatricians can manage ITP with serial CBC evaluations and physical examinations to rule out major bleeding symptoms.

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  1. Community Medical Centers, Manteca, CA, USA

    Manasi Madiwale

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Deepak M. Kamat

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Melissa Frei-Jones

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Madiwale, M. (2021). Immune Thrombocytopenia. In: Kamat, D., Frei-Jones, M. (eds) Benign Hematologic Disorders in Children. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49980-8_9

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