What exactly is going on with thrombocytopenia in children?

Low platelet count in children is an autoimmune bleeding disease, clinically called thrombocytopenic purpura, also known as thrombocytopenia. To solve the problem of low platelets, we must first know what causes the low platelets in children. Different causes require different treatments. Do you know what causes thrombocytopenic purpura? Let me explain it to you below.

1. Platelet-related antibodies

Antiplatelet antibodies are present in the serum of patients with chronic ITP. If the plasma of chronic ITP patients is transfused to normal people, the platelets of normal people may be reduced; if the platelets of normal people are transfused to ITP patients, the transfused platelets will be destroyed in a short time.

2. Megakaryocyte maturation disorder

In life, what are the causes of thrombocytopenic purpura? Because platelets and megakaryocytes have common antigens, anti-platelet antibodies can also inhibit bone marrow megakaryocytes and cause their maturation disorders, thereby affecting platelet production and causing thrombocytopenia.

3. Platelet destruction mechanism

The average lifespan of normal platelets is 7 to 11 days, while the lifespan of platelets in ITP patients is only 40 to 230 minutes. Because the spleen contains a large number of macrophages that produce high concentrations of antiplatelet antibodies, and the slow blood flow can retain antibody-coated platelets, the spleen becomes the main site of platelet destruction. The liver and bone marrow are also sites of platelet destruction.

4. Other factors

Effect of estrogen: The chronic type is more common in women of childbearing age and is prone to relapse during pregnancy, suggesting that estrogen may play a certain role in the onset of this disease. It may be that estrogen can increase the ability of macrophages to phagocytize and destroy platelets; antibodies damage capillary endothelial cells, causing a slight increase in capillary permeability and aggravating bleeding.

The above are the causes of thrombocytopenia, many of which are caused by genetic factors, so pre-pregnancy examination is very important. In addition, since children with this disease find it difficult to control their emotions, in order to prevent their crying from causing bleeding, adults can comfort them by touching them, telling stories, etc.