ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; also known as Immune Thrombocytopenia), being idiopathic, has no known cause. ITP is the thinning of platelets in the blood, which causes prolonged bleeding and easy bruising. After observation, it has been noted that those who get ITP have typically been diagnosed with it after a large viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, and those diagnosed with it were given antibiotics, antiviral, or anti-fungal medications as prevention of the return of their illness prior to ITP. ITP has been shown to have an equal spread between males and females, and, from what is known now, it can occur randomly. There are two main types of ITP, chronic and acute ITP. Acute ITP is classified by its short time being present in the body. This is most commonly found in children. Chronic ITP is most commonly found in adults and is classified by the illness not going away. ITP itself is a very rare disease where either bone marrow does not produce enough platelets, the body's immune system destroys its own platelets, or both occur, the later appearing to be the most common. The currently known treatments for this do not completely cure it, but include the removal of the spleen, which is thought to be where some of the platelet destruction occurs, drugs that increase platelet production, these, typically, not being as effective as the other treatments, and drugs that suppress the immune system, which has terrible side effects, but has proven to be quite effective at fixing the ITP issue.
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