Symptoms of Immune Thrombocytopenia
7 Signs and Symptoms of ITP
Signs You May Have ITP
Symptoms may begin to appear when platelet levels are very low. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), symptoms of ITP can include:
- Bruising or purple spots on the skin that occur very easily or for no known reason. These bruises are called purpura and may also appear in the mouth.
- Small red dots that resemble a rash. These dots, called petechiae, are actually caused by bleeding underneath the skin as a result of damage to blood vessels or leaks in a capillary wall.
- Frequent nosebleeds that are difficult to stop.
- Bleeding from the gums
- Unusually long menstrual cycle or heavy menstrual bleeding
- Hematoma, or a pooling of clotted or partially clotted blood under the skin. A hematoma can cause pain and swelling.
- Blood in urine, stool, or vomit
Mental Health Effects of ITP
According to the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA), the excessive bleeding that comes with ITP can lead to anemia, a condition characterized by low levels of red blood cells. In people with anemia, there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. This often results in extreme fatigue and low energy levels.
Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are also common in people with ITP, the PDSA reports. This can lead to social anxiety and difficulties concentrating at work or school. It’s not known whether these are symptoms of the disease itself, the result of anxiety, or side effects of medication.
Symptoms of Brain Bleeds
According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of brain bleeds may include:
- Sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg, especially if it is on one side of the body
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Difficulty swallowing
- Trouble seeing or loss of vision
- Slurred speech
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
- Sensitivity to light
- Stiff neck
- Trouble reading, writing, or understanding speech
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
An intracranial hemorrhage is a medical emergency and can be fatal. If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms, it is important to get to your local emergency room immediately.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Sources
- Immune Thrombocytopenia. Medline Plus.
- Immune Thrombocytopenia. Cleveland Clinic.
- Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic.
- Immune Thrombocytopenia. National Organization for Rare Disorders.
- Brain Bleed, Hemorrhage (Intracranial Hemorrhage). Cleveland Clinic.
Resources
- Immune Thrombocytopenia. MedlinePlus. June 1, 2017.
- Immune Thrombocytopenia. Cleveland Clinic. July 30, 2021.
- Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP): Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. June 8, 2023.
- Immune Thrombocytopenia. National Organization for Rare Disorders. July 12, 2022.
- Brain Bleed, Hemorrhage (Intracranial Hemorrhage). Cleveland Clinic. May 4, 2020.
- Mind Body Medicine. Platelet Disorder Support Association.