Very many children have recently been ill with serious diseases, which often adversely affect their development. A couple of decades ago, few people heard about such an ailment as thrombocytopenia, and now it is increasingly being detected in newborns. But what is thrombocytopenia in children, what provokes its development and how does it manifest itself?
Thrombocytopenia: what is this pathology?
Thrombocytopenia is an unusual and mysterious disease that can manifest itself as a symptom indicating another serious and dangerous pathology for a person (cancer, HIV) or an independent disease. In addition, the disease can manifest itself in the form of an allergic reaction of the body to any kind of substance. Also, people who abuse alcohol, or who have received a huge dose of radiation, can suffer from this pathology. Based on this, we can conclude that thrombocytopenia in children and adults can be caused by various reasons, and only an experienced doctor and modern diagnostic methods will allow you to find out exactly what provoked its appearance.
Thrombocytopenia in childhood is a pathology duringwhich in the blood decreases the level of platelets, and they, in turn, are responsible for blood clotting. Platelets are platelets that, when the integrity of the surface of the vessel is violated, rush to the site of the lesion and close the wound, stopping the bleeding.
What causes thrombocytopenia in children?
Most often, thrombocytopenia in children is a congenital pathology, for example, within the Bernard-Soulier, Viscott-Aldrich, Fanconi and other syndromes. Also in childhood, this ailment can be provoked by an increased function of the spleen - hypersplenism. And all due to the fact that this is the organ where the blood cells that have served their time are recycled.
A low platelet count may indicate that a person has blood cancer. When all hematopoietic processes completely stop in the bone marrow, at the same time, the patient has a lack of other blood components.
Classification of thrombocytopenia
The disease is divided into two forms:
- Primary - accompanied only by the appearance of thrombocytopenic syndrome, while there are no other diseases of the internal organs. Thrombocytopenia purpura, idiopathic and hemolytic uremic syndrome are all pathologies of the primary form.
- Secondary manifests itself as a complication after the main pathology, such as HIV, cirrhosis of the liver or leukemia.
Depending on whether the immune component is present in the causes of thrombocytopenia or not, there are two moreshapes:
- Immune thrombocytopenia - appears during the rapid destruction of platelets under the influence of antibodies. In this state, the human immune system cannot correctly recognize platelets, takes them for a foreign body and produces antibodies against them that block them, thereby aggravating the already difficult condition of the patient.
- The non-immune form can develop in case of mechanical damage to platelets, this most often occurs with extracorporeal circulation or Marchiafava-Micheli disease.
Most often it is immune thrombocytopenia that manifests itself in children, and it is divided into several groups.
Immune thrombocytopenia groups
There are 4 main groups of immune thrombocytopenia:
- Isoimmune is a form in which platelets are destroyed through incompatibility in one of the blood group systems. It may also be due to transfusion to the recipient with foreign platelets in the presence of antibodies to them or the penetration of antibodies to the child through the womb.
- Transimmune - occurs when the autoantibodies of a mother who suffers from an autoimmune form pass through the placenta, and thrombocytopenia immediately appears in newborns after birth.
- Heteroimmune - this group is associated with failures in the antigenic structure of the platelet, which occur under the influence of a virus or the appearance of a new type of antibody.
- Autoimmune is a group in which antibodies are produced against one's own unchanged type of antibody.
But what provokesthe appearance of the disease, what causes lead to it, except for the hereditary factor?
Causes of thrombocytopenia
Most often, thrombocytopenia in children can be triggered by the following reasons:
- Insufficient amount of trace elements in the body.
- Intoxication.
- Allergic reaction to food from the outside world.
- Autoimmune process in the body.
- Other pathology, most often HIV, cirrhosis or leukemia.
But not only diseases and external factors can cause illness, it can also be provoked by taking medications that have been prescribed to the patient.
What drugs can cause thrombocytopenia?
As practice and numerous studies of scientists have shown, very often thrombocytopenia in young children appears as a result of taking medications of the following groups:
- Antibiotics, most often Levomycetin or sulfonamides.
- Diuretics - "Furosemide" or "Hydrochlorothiazide".
- Anticonvulsant "Phenobarbital".
- Antipsychotics – Prochlorperazine or Meprobamate.
- Antithyroid drugs - "Tiamazol".
- Drugs against diabetes - Glibenclamide and Glipizide.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs - "Indomethacin".
Butwhat symptoms might indicate that the patient has thrombocytopenia?
Symptoms of the disease
Thrombocytopenia can be different for each patient, the causes and treatment are therefore also individual, but most people have very similar symptoms:
- Hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes. It appears as small red spots. They are especially noticeable in those places where clothes rub against the body the most. These spots do not cause pain or any discomfort, do not protrude above the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. They can both be point-like and occupy large areas. There may also be bruising that is red, blue, or even greenish-yellow.
- Frequent nosebleeds. The nasal mucosa is richly supplied with blood, and there are a large number of capillaries in it. Due to reduced platelet production, capillary fragility increases, so any sneezing, minor injuries or colds can trigger bleeding that can last more than 10 minutes.
- Bleeding gums. Many people experience minor bleeding while brushing their teeth, but in sick patients this symptom is very pronounced, develops over a larger area of the gums and lasts for a long time.
- Bleeding in the stomach and intestines. They arise due to the fragility of blood vessels, and even eating hard food can provoke them. As a result, blood may pass out with feces.
- Blood inurine. This symptom appears due to the fact that there is a hemorrhage on the mucous membrane of the bladder and on the path of urine output.
- Abundant and long periods in girls. In the normal state, the duration of the menstrual cycle is 3-5 days, and with thrombocytopenia, menstruation can last two or even three times longer, and bleeding is heavy.
- Prolonged bleeding after tooth extraction. In a normal state, it stops after 20 minutes, and if a patient has thrombocytopenia, it can last much longer, and all because there are few platelets in the body and they cannot cope with their task quickly.
Do not forget that thrombocytopenia can have completely different causes. And each treatment is selected individually. The disease can also manifest itself with symptoms that are characteristic of the pathology that provoked it. During diagnostics, they must be taken into account.
Diagnostic methods
If the doctor noticed the characteristic symptoms of the disease in the patient, then first of all he prescribes a clinical blood test, with which you can find out the level of platelets in the blood. Pay attention to the indicators of the number of other bodies - erythrocytes and leukocytes. It is the determination of the level of platelets that is the main method for diagnosing a disease such as thrombocytopenia in children under one year old and older.
Currently, all people with HIV are encouraged to have regular clinical blood tests. Doctors recommend undergoing an examination every six months and, in addition to the general test, also takeothers: immune status and viral load.
There are 5 main factors that influence the diagnosis:
- No symptoms in early childhood.
- No symptoms of hereditary forms of thrombocytopenia.
- If there are no clinical manifestations in relatives.
- Efficacy of the glucocorticosteroid form of treatment in certain dosages.
- If possible, detect antiplatelet antibodies.
But how to treat thrombocytopenia in children, which methods are more effective? How can traditional medicine help with such a diagnosis and can it?
Therapeutic methods for thrombocytopenia
The treatment of a patient for thrombocytopenia directly depends on what causes led to this pathology. Only a correct diagnosis will allow you to choose more effective methods of therapy. Doctors today use several treatment options:
- Medication taking.
- Surgical intervention.
- Treatment with folk methods.
In some cases, the disease does not need to be treated, it goes away by itself. For example, secondary mild thrombocytopenia in children with a slight decrease in platelet count. In such a situation, the doctor can prescribe to the patient only a vitamin complex and preparations for general strengthening of the body.
As for pregnant women who are diagnosed with this disease, they should not cause serious concern about the disease. Women who are carrying a baby often suffer from the fact that they have a greatly reduced levelplatelets in the blood. After childbirth, and in some during pregnancy, the level of these bodies returns to normal without any treatment. Immune thrombocytopenia is considered the most dangerous, it is very important to treat it correctly.
Treatment of immune thrombocytopenia
The immune form of the disease is considered one of the most serious, in addition, it is also the most common. Pathology develops against the background of weakened immunity, caused by the fact that the child has had the flu, SARS, or is an HIV-infected patient. In addition, the cause of this form of the disease can also be medications that are not controlled by the doctor.
In addition to the immune form, there is often an autoimmune form, which also occurs due to malfunctions in the immune system. To cure this disease, most often recommend taking immunosuppressive drugs. Also, the doctor may prescribe glucocorticosteroid drugs, because it is thanks to them that the level of platelets increases.
In cases where thrombocytopenia was caused by a virus or infection, the disease that caused the low platelet count should be treated first. Perhaps after therapy everything will return to normal.
HIV-infected patients deserve special attention. It is simply necessary for parents to carefully monitor their he alth and strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations.
In some cases, in the treatment of thrombocytopenia, surgery is recommended, namely the removal of the spleen. But to this methodresorted to only as a last resort, if the patient has a risk of bleeding. As practice has shown, most children after surgery, if any, have excellent results.
But not only traditional medicine helps in treatment, folk methods are also effective.
Folk methods in the treatment of thrombocytopenia
Treatment of thrombocytopenia in children with folk remedies gives excellent results, especially the use of sesame oil. It regulates the level of platelets in the blood. It is simply taken in food at 10 grams up to three times a day.
Vervain infusion also helps. Prepare it like this: 5 g of verbena is poured with a glass of boiling water, wrapped in a towel and left to infuse for 30 minutes. Take it for one month, a glass a day in small portions.
Don't forget about preventive measures that will help protect against thrombocytopenia.
Prevention
Those children who are already sick or have a tendency to this disease should follow preventive measures:
- Avoid any situation that could lead to injury.
- Parents need to adjust their children's diet.
- Do not take "Aspirin" and other drugs belonging to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Parents should be more careful about what their children eat, what medicines the doctor prescribes. When contacting a clinic, even with a common cold, the attending physician mustshould know about the existing diagnosis.
Conclusion
Summing up, it must be said that only regular compliance with all the doctor's recommendations, taking all the drugs and preventive measures will help a child with thrombocytopenia feel good and not consider himself infringed. Parents of such children should pay more attention to their babies and constantly take them to the doctor for examination. In fact, there are many such small patients in our country, but they all live a full life, and the disease does not bother them.
