Are you saying you have low platelets? (Thrombocytopenia) Let's find out exactly what this is.

You may have heard the doctor look at a blood test report and say, "Your platelets are a little low." Or you may have felt scared when you couldn't stop bleeding even from a small cut. This decrease in the number of platelets in the blood is what we call Thrombocytopenia in medicine. Don't be afraid. Let's talk about this simply and clearly.

Why do blood platelets decrease like this?

Simply put, platelets are a type of small cell that helps our blood clot . They are produced in the bone marrow inside our bones. Think of our bone marrow as a factory that makes platelets. There are two main reasons why this condition can occur. Either the production of this factory decreases. Or, the platelets that are produced are quickly destroyed inside the body.

Now let's see what are the reasons behind this. Let's look at this table to understand this clearly.

In addition to these reasons, sometimes these platelets can get stuck and accumulate inside the spleen , an organ in our body. Also, during pregnancy, this condition can occur temporarily because some women's platelets are removed from their bodies faster than normal.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

Most of the time, a low platelet count doesn't cause any symptoms. But if symptoms do occur, the main ones are bleeding and bruising. You may also notice small, red or purple spots on your skin. These are called petechiae .

These are bleedings that can occur inside or outside the body. Sometimes this bleeding can be heavy and difficult to stop.

In addition, these features can also be seen:

• Bleeding from the gums or nose.
• Blood in the urine or stool.
• Excessive bleeding during periods in women.
• Headache .
• Frequent tiredness and fatigue .
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
• Spleen swelling.

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to see your doctor, he will ask you about your medical history and current symptoms. He will then examine your body and check for bruises, petechiae, and signs of infection, such as fever and skin lesions.

Then, you will definitely be asked to do a blood test, that is, a full blood count. Normally, a healthy person has between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. If this number falls below 50,000, the risk of bleeding increases.

In most cases, your doctor may refer you to a blood specialist (hematologist). In addition, you may be asked to do some other tests.

• Blood smear test: This is where the shape and health of your platelets are checked under a microscope.
• Bone marrow test: This allows you to take an in-depth look at the types of cells in the bone marrow and their health.
• Blood clotting tests: Special tests that check whether the blood clotting process is working properly.

What complications can this cause?

This is what we need to be especially careful about.

• If your platelet count drops below 50,000, even a minor injury can cause excessive bleeding.
• If this number drops below 30,000, even a small, unexpected event could cause major bleeding.
• If your platelet count drops below 10,000, you can start to bleed dangerously inside your body, even without any injury. Very rarely, it can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as bleeding inside the brain. That's why it's important to seek medical attention for this condition.

What are the treatments for this?

Treatment depends on your platelet count and the underlying condition that caused it.

• If your platelet count is not too low, you may not need any treatment. Your doctor will monitor it.
• Sometimes, the platelet count returns to normal once the cause is stopped. For example, if it is determined that a medication is causing the problem, your doctor will tell you to stop taking that medication.

However, in severe cases (severe thrombocytopenia), the doctor may prescribe treatments such as:

• Steroid medications: If this is due to a problem with the immune system, these medications are given to stop the body from destroying its own platelets.
• IVIG (Intravenous Immune Globulin): This treatment is given if you cannot take steroids, or if you need to quickly increase your platelet count.
• Blood or platelet transfusion:Giving blood or platelets from a healthy person to the body.
• Splenectomy: Only if other treatments fail to control the condition, the spleen, which destroys platelets, is surgically removed.
• Other medications: If these treatments don't control the condition, your doctor may prescribe other specific medications, such as eltrombopag (Promacta, Revolade) or romiplostim (Nplate).

What can be done to prevent bleeding?

If your platelet levels are low, take care of these things to prevent bleeding.

• Do not take painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which affect blood clotting, without your doctor's advice.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol can increase bleeding.
• Stay away from contact sports that can cause injuries, such as football, boxing, and rugby, for a while.
• When brushing your teeth, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your gums.
• Always wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle. If you are working with machinery, wear safety gloves and glasses.