Platelets are blood cells that promote clotting. Low amounts of these cells indicate thrombocytopenia. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and treatments will depend on the underlying cause. The National Library of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic offer the following information on this condition.

Nature of Low Platelets

Low platelets can result from decreased production in the bone marrow or excess breakdown of platelets in the bloodstream, spleen or liver. The nature of decreased platelet counts will depend on the underlying cause.

Causes

You can get thrombocytopenia from bone marrow cancers and infections, anemia, viral infections like HIV, excessive alcohol intake, chemotherapy, enlarged spleen, disorders that cause your immune system to mistakenly destroy platelets, pregnancy, blood poisoning, TTP (condition that causes many clots to form at once) and certain medications.

Symptoms

People with thrombocytopenia might experience bruising, bleeding from the gums and nose, a rash that resembles small red dots, cuts that bleed longer than normal and bloody urine or stool.

Complications

If your thrombocytopenia is mild, you will probably not experience any long-term problems. Severe cases can cause bleeding into the brain or stomach and need to be addressed medically.

Treatments

Mild cases might not require any treatment. For example, thrombocytopenia typically resolves on its own once pregnant women have given birth, and children often do not require treatment for mild cases. Primary treatment often involves addressing the underlying causes. If necessary, thrombocytopenia-specific treatments include medications that protect platelets from being destroyed, surgery to remove the spleen and blood transfusions for severe cases.

Source:

The Mayo Clinic: Thrombocytopenia

National Library of Medicine: Thrombocytopenia