Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. In some cases, a transfusion of platelets may be required to stop or prevent bleeding.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
The outcome depends on the disorder causing the low platelet counts.
Complications
Severe bleeding (hemorrhage) is the main complication. This can include:
- Bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage)
- Gastrointestinal bleeding (vomiting blood or blood in the stools)
- Nosebleeds
Calling your health care provider
Call your healthcare provider if you experience unexplained bleeding or bruising.
Previous Section
Review Date: 02/05/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow
Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed
by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
