What Does It Mean When Your Child Has Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP)?

When your child scrapes their elbow or bruises their knee, blood vessels become broken, and blood escapes. The body responds quickly to prevent too much blood from escaping, using a process called blood clotting — when tiny cells in the blood clump together to fill small holes in the blood vessels that have been damaged.

Platelets are important cells that help the blood to clot. Without the right amount of platelets, your child’s body may not react to injuries as it should, putting them at risk for bleeding and bruising.

Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) is a bleeding disorder caused by the immune system. In ITP, the immune system makes antibodies that destroy platelets faster than the body can make them. This causes a low platelet count and puts your child at risk for bleeding and bruising.

The exact cause of ITP is often unknown. However, ITP may develop after an illness or after
immunizations.

There are two different types of ITP:

• Acute ITP, which can last weeks to months

• Chronic ITP, which lasts longer than 12 months and can continue for several years