A person’s immune system is made up of several kinds of cells. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are tiny and colorless cell fragments in the blood that prevent or stop bleeding and form clots. The bone marrow creates platelets in an individual’s body. Thrombocytopenia, also known as low platelet count, is a health condition in which the platelet count in the blood becomes unacceptably low. Here are some essential details about this health condition:

Symptoms of low platelet count
Healthcare professionals can detect low platelet count in people based on their blood tests and also some of the following typical symptoms:

Frequent bruises
When people have low platelet counts in their blood, their skin tends to become incredibly vulnerable and sensitive to injuries. So, cuts and bruises become commonplace. People sustain injuries on a weekly, if not daily, basis. These bruises inevitably lead to blood loss through the wounds. A profound blood loss due to frequent injuries is one of the most precise indicators of thrombocytopenia.

Frequent blood loss
A direct result of the slew of injuries a person suffers frequently is large amounts of blood loss. People tend to leave blood stains from their injuries in places where they sit or lie down for a nap. Persistent blood loss is a common symptom across several disorders.

Blood in excreta
Blood loss in a person’s body is not restricted to only wounds. People with this condition also tend to lose large amounts of blood through their feces and urine. People with this condition may also feel varying amounts of pain when they urinate or defecate throughout the day.

Wounds that do not heal
This is the signature symptom of thrombocytopenia. People with this health disorder tend to suffer several bruises and cuts that remain open and fresh for long periods. While this causes blood loss, it also leaves people vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infections in the wounded areas.

Tiredness and fatigue
With the loss of so much blood, people also lose a large amount of oxygen and nutrients from their bodies. As a result of that, it is common for such individuals to feel tired constantly. People with low platelet count will likely feel breathless and exhausted after doing the simplest tasks, such as walking a few paces or squatting a few times.

Causes of low platelet count
Here are some of the main causative factors behind low platelet count in individuals:

The body is not producing enough platelets
A reduction in platelet production is often a bone marrow problem. Certain diseases, such as leukemia or lymphoma, damage a person’s bone marrow and destroy their blood stem cells to drive their platelet count below normal levels. Apart from those two diseases, other health conditions that debilitate the bone marrow and cause low platelet count are anemia, viral infections like chickenpox, and hepatitis C. Exposure to toxic chemicals like arsenic or benzene also makes people susceptible to low platelet count.

The spleen is trapping too many platelets
A person’s spleen filters their blood and helps them fight bacteria—additionally, the spleen stores white blood cells and platelets. When a person’s spleen becomes enlarged due to blood cancers or advanced liver disease, it tends to hold on to a large number of platelets. This automatically reduces the number of platelets in people’s blood.

The body is using up too many platelets
Certain health conditions and prescription-based solutions rapidly destroy or use up platelets faster than they are produced. Some such conditions and solutions are pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura hemolytic uremic syndrome, and bacteria in the blood.

Treatment options for low platelet count
There are multiple management techniques and treatment avenues for low platelet count. Some of these options include:

Blood transfusion
When a person’s platelet levels are dangerously low, their healthcare provider may use blood transfusions to boost the platelet levels in their blood temporarily. Transfusions boost platelet levels for around three days, after which people have to undergo the procedure again.
Although blood transfusions are a temporary solution, they are also a quick fix for the low platelet count option.

Splenectomy
Unlike the previous management technique, this one is more long-lasting. In this procedure, doctors remove an individual’s spleen. As stated earlier, the trapping of a large number of platelets is caused by the spleen. So, removing it frees the number of platelets in the bloodstream. Additionally, the collection of platelets in the future is avoided for good. Splenectomy is a common medical procedure that helps treat thrombocytopenia effectively.