In certain situations, he or she might refer you to a specialist in blood diseases (hematologist). Start by seeing your primary care doctor, who can manage most cases of thrombocytopenia. Over-the-counter pain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can prevent platelets from working properly. Use caution with over-the-counter medications.Ask your doctor whether it's OK for you to drink alcohol. Alcohol slows the production of platelets in your body. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.Contact sports, such as boxing, martial arts and football, carry a high risk of injury. Ask your doctor which activities are safe for you. Avoid activities that could cause injury.Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura can result in a medical emergency requiring plasma exchange. If other treatments don't help, your doctor might recommend surgery to remove your spleen (splenectomy). If that doesn't work, stronger medications can be used to suppress your immune system. The first-choice drug might be a corticosteroid. If your condition is related to an immune system problem, your doctor might prescribe drugs to boost your platelet count. If your platelet level becomes too low, your doctor can replace lost blood with transfusions of packed red blood cells or platelets. For example, if you have heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, your doctor can prescribe a different blood-thinning drug. If your thrombocytopenia is caused by an underlying condition or a medication, addressing that cause might cure it. For people who do need treatment for thrombocytopenia, treatment depends on its cause and how severe it is. People with mild thrombocytopenia might not need treatment. Thrombocytopenia can last for days or years. Your doctor might suggest other tests and procedures to determine the cause of your condition, depending on your signs and symptoms. He or she will also ask you about illnesses you've had and the types of medications and supplements you've recently taken. Your doctor will look for signs of bleeding under your skin and feel your abdomen to see if your spleen is enlarged. Physical exam, including a complete medical history.A complete blood count determines the number of blood cells, including platelets, in a sample of your blood. The following can be used to determine whether you have thrombocytopenia: Though rare, severe thrombocytopenia can cause bleeding into the brain, which can be fatal. ComplicationsÄangerous internal bleeding can occur when your platelet count falls below 10,000 platelets per microliter. But a number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged. The spleen is a small organ usually about the size of your fist. Examples include heparin, quinine, sulfa-containing antibiotics and anticonvulsants. Sometimes a drug confuses the immune system and causes it to destroy platelets. Certain medications can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. This rare disorder causes a sharp drop in platelets, destruction of red blood cells and impairs kidney function. This is a rare condition that occurs when small blood clots suddenly form throughout your body, using up large numbers of platelets. Severe bacterial infections involving the blood (bacteremia) can destroy platelets. If the exact cause of this condition isn't known, it's called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. The body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys platelets. Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, cause this type. Thrombocytopenia caused by pregnancy is usually mild and improves soon after childbirth. Some conditions can cause your body to use up or destroy platelets faster than they're produced, leading to a shortage of platelets in your bloodstream. Chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy.Viral infections, such as hepatitis C or HIV.Factors that can decrease platelet production include: Platelets are produced in your bone marrow. An enlarged spleen - which can be caused by a number of disorders - can harbor too many platelets, which decreases the number of platelets in circulation. Normally, your spleen works to fight infection and filter unwanted material from your blood. The spleen is a small organ about the size of your fist situated just below your rib cage on the left side of your abdomen. Whatever the cause, circulating platelets are reduced by one or more of the following processes: trapping of platelets in the spleen, decreased platelet production or increased destruction of platelets. Thrombocytopenia rarely is inherited or it can be caused by a number of medications or conditions. Because each platelet lives only about 10 days, your body normally renews your platelet supply continually by producing new platelets in your bone marrow. Thrombocytopenia means you have fewer than 150,000 platelets per microliter of circulating blood.
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