Having bloody stools can be really frightening, especially if the patient is not sure of the exact cause of the bleeding. Bleeding can happen everywhere in the body. It may start within the gastrointestinal tract, in the small or large intestine, or within the rectum or anus. Nobody really knows until the doctor gives you the diagnosis based on the results of the tests the patient went through.
Aside from constipation, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, and the like another possible disease that can lead to bloody stools is idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. From the very term “idiopathic” which means unknown; the cause of the disease is still a mystery to most doctors. This condition is the state of having very low levels of platelets in the body that can be considered as abnormal already.
A person suffering from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura has good set of normal blood cells. The only problem really is the platelet count. This is why if a patient has idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, he/she must not get bruised because it will lead to excessive bleeding.
Possible causes of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
One of the possible causes of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is suppressed immune system. If a person has a very weak body, infections are easily acquired and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is one of them.
In children, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura usually occurs after the body gets some sort of viral infection. Meanwhile, adults acquire idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura during infection, immune disorder during pregnancy, and brought about by certain drugs. Between the two, children are more at risk, as well as women.
Early signs and symptoms
As with every health condition or disease, early manifestations such as signs and symptoms should be watched out for. This will give the patient the edge over the disease, because he/she can easily visit a doctor. Some of the common signs and symptoms of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura include the following:
- Bloody stools
- Excessive menstrual bleeding among females
- Red, itchy spots in the body
- Excessive bruising in any parts of the body
- Unexplained nose or gum bleeding
- Having wounds or cuts that take more time to clot and heal
If some of these symptoms are present, always remember to keep a clear head and visit your physician as soon as possible. While bloody stool is a sign and symptom, it does not necessarily translate to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Proper diagnosing of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
A check-up visit to a physician will give patients the relief that they want. In order to determine if a patient has idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, the physician will do a series of tests. One of which is a physical examination, this will let him check the wounds, rashes, or any physical manifestations of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in your body.
A complete blood count (CBC) may also be required to check if the patient has abnormal levels of platelets in the body. Besides the CBC, a blood smear can also be performed.
Treating idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Among children, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura typically goes on its own. Most affected children need some sort of treatment in order for them to get better. On the other hand, adults will usually be given an anti-inflammatory steroid medicine (prednisone). In worst cases, surgery to remove the spleen will be required.
Apart from prednisone, there are other treatments that can be prescribed by the doctor if the condition does not improve. The goal of treating idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is to prevent any complications such as bleeding in the brain or severe blood loss.
In general, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is very curable, provided that the patient will work closely with the physician to achieve good health.