What is ITP in Children and how it can be cured?
What is ITP in Children and treatment options in modern medicine but for Ayurvedic opinion click here for next article. Ayurveda offers a great ray of hope for all ITP patients.
Yes, it can be cured with Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicines and modern medicine says in 80 % of the children it goes away automatically but those in which it does not go away, alternative medicine can be ray of hope.
It is also known as Immune thrombocytopenia, which is kept in category of Auto-immune disorder. Auto immune disorders are when our own defense system attacks our own cells. In this case, our immunity (Antibodies) attacks our own platelets and start destroying them too quickly.
Platelets are cells in blood and made in bone marrow but in ITP the bone marrow is perfectly fine and making the platelets normally but they are destroyed when they are released in the blood after the maturity.
Platelets help to control the bleeding. ITP affects many children around the world under the age of 16. Usually the ITP in children is triggered by a common viral infection.
When the ITP is recently diagnosed in last 6 months, then it's called Acute ITP.
If it is lasting for more than 6 months, then it's called Chronic ITP.
Acute ITP is the most common form in Children and usually goes away on its own over the period of few weeks or months and sometimes without treatment also and just by giving good nutritious natural diet.
It cannot be predicted however that the acute ITP will not go into Chronic ITP.
Chronic ITP is usually affecting adults but many children can also pass into chronic ITP stage, which is after 6 months of initial diagnosis.
The treatment of low platelets and Acute or Chronic ITP in modern medical system is as mentioned below-
1. Blood transfusions or Platelet transfusions
2. Steroids (Popular brands used are Omnacortil, Wysolone, Predicort, Predmet, Medrol etc.)
The steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs which help to reduce the production of anti-bodies and increase platelet count by slowing down the rate at which they are attacked. This does not give a permanent solution. It causes many side effects and cannot be used for long term because of the side effects like calcium depletion, swelling over face (Round face) , weakness, Cataract formation in eyes, development of diabetes in some cases, weak bones and body hair growth. Moreover, the steroids are just giving the time cover for the body to recover on it's own. It's not a cure.
3. Anti-leprosy drug called Dapsone ( which is used for treatment of dermatitis herpetiformis)
4. IVIG – Intravenous ImmunoGlobulin Injections
5. Immunosuppresants like Azathioprine ( Imuran, Azoran or Azamun) , Cyclosporine ( Sandimmune) or Mycophenolate ( Cellcept)
6. Sometimes Splenectomy is recommended but that is usually in case of Chronic ITP not responding to above mentioned lines of treatment.
7. Expensive Medicines like Revolade, Promacta (Eltrombopag – which are known as colony stimulating factors) are also given to prevent bleeding episodes.
Chronic ITP is usually seen in adults but sometimes children can also pass into chronic stage.
More About ITP
Immune thrombocytopenia causes low platelets in blood. Normal count is more than 2,50,000 ( 20 years ago, but now 1,50,000 is considered normal) but in ITP it can come down to dangerously low levels of less than 20,000 . The patient needs hospitalization if the platelets are less than 20,000 but if they are more than 50,000 then it's is still considered a safer zone.
Less than 10,000 platelets can lead to bleeding, which can be dangerous.
In ITP the patient produces abnormal antibodies (our own army) which sticks to platelets and when they go through spleen, the spleen destroys them.
The bone marrow is producing the platelets normally but the body is destroying them too quickly. Normal age span of platelets is 7 to 10 days but in case of ITP they survive only for few hours and thus the count remains very low.
SYMPTOMS OF ITP IN CHILDREN
Acute ITP or Acute thrombocytopenia is common affecting more than 90 % of children between age of 2 to 6.
Acute ITP gets resolved on its own with proper diet and care. If there are serious symptoms, then above mentioned allopathic medicines are given by doctors. Chronic ITP is more common in adults than in Children.
Chronic ITP needs more care than acute ITP.
Bruises, Blue spots, reddish or dark red or bluish spots over body are symptoms. Fatigue, tiredness, irritability are also sometimes the symptoms of ITP.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE ITP IN CHILDREN?
- Careful medical history is important to make a diagnosis
- Complete physical examination
- CBC or complete blood count to check platelet count
- Bone marrow biopsy to check if the platelets are being formed in bone marrow or not?
After all these tests, and confirmed diagnosis, the doctors start the treatment of ITP.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT OF ITP IN CHILDREN?
There is actually no cure of ITP – idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura but the treatment consisting of steroids, dapsone and immunosuppressant is given.
Majority of children get better gradually on their own which can be with or without treatment. Ayurvedic treatment however helps them a lot as it is done on Ayurvedic principles.
Intravenous Gamma Globulin – Also called IVIG is an injection given to ITP patients but it's expensive and in many cases it does not work. It is made from human blood containing antibodies that help to slow down the rate at which abnormal platelets are destroyed by the spleen. Fever, Chills, headache, muscle and joint pain, rashes or allergic reaction can be the side effects.
IntraVenous RHO ( D) immune Globulin – Also called WinRho- It's another human plasma medicine which works temporarily to stop the spleen from destroying platelets. Only RH positive blood type children can receive this injection and they should also have their spleen in their body. The same side effects like IvIg.
OTHER TREATMENTS
- Splenectomy – Usually done in older children and adults with Chronic ITP. Ayurveda recommends use of natural medicines before taking such decisions.
- 6 Mercaptopurine ( Purinethol or 6 MP) – It’s also immunosuppressant.
- Hormone therapy to counteract the side effects of drugs or to control the excessive menstrual bleeding in girls due to low platelets.
OUTLOOK OF ITP CHILDREN IN GENERAL – PROGNOSIS
Most of the children recover on their own in ITP but others pass into chronic stage. Fatal brain hemorrhage or other eye hemorrhage can be problematic. There is no cure for ITP in modern medical system. A lot of research is however going on. Ayurveda is an age old healthcare system with no mention of ITP in ancient texts but similar disease with similar symptoms. The herbs and mineral which are used to treat that condition have helped many of my patients.
Once recovered from ITP, the recurrence is not common. Another viral infection can however trigger the event again in very rare cases.
Most frequent question asked by many is:-
Can my child play sports or do running or jogging?Can my child participate in athletic activities?
Can my child travel in an airplane or travel at all?
The answer is it all depends up the platelet count. If its more than 50,000 then the child is in safe zone. He can do all these activities but under monitoring and care.
- Less than this no, it's not allowed. Travelling in airplane or ship is also allowed if the count is more than 50,000
- Less than 20,000 count is dangerous and needs platelet transfusion or hospital admission.
- It's also very important to take care of hydration of the child. Water or fresh fruit juices, vegetable smoothies should be given every day.
- Milk and milk products should be avoided.
- Take special care in winter season to avoid cold and flu
- Anti-biotics use should be minimized.
- Ibuprofen is contraindicated in low platelets
- Herbs like black pepper or chillis or Turmeric, Ginger which cause blood thinning should not be consumed.
- There are hot in potency and can prevent platelet aggregation and lead to bleeding.
WHICH AYURVEDIC MEDICINES ARE GIVEN TO TREAT ITP AND HOW WE CAN GET THEM?
You can read about the Ayurvedic medicines for ITP at the website - www.planetayurveda.com and to get the medicines delivered at your place, you can order them online or send your reports to herbalremedies123@yahoo.com for more details and free online assessment of your case.
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