What are the symptoms of ITP?
The symptoms of ITP include:
- Easy or excessive bruising
- Petechiae (tiny reddish purple dots on the skin that are caused by bleeding under the surface of the skin) on the body, especially on the lower legs
- Cuts or minor wounds that take a very long time to clot or stop bleeding
- Blood in the urine or stools
- Unusually heavy menstrual flow in women
- Unexplained bleeding from the nose or gums
Many adults have only mild thrombocytopenia. In fact, quite a few people have no bleeding symptoms. In most adults, ITP lasts much longer than it does in children. At the time of diagnosis, most adults have noticed increased bleeding and easy bruising for several weeks or even months. In women, increased menstrual blood flow is a common sign.
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff