Low Platelet Counts: The Causes of Low Platelet Counts

Individuals who have low platelets experience bruising easily and the blood does not clot as it should. Many people with low platelets often have to take medication, have surgery or a blood transfusion to help treat their condition. Low platelets causes bruising easily and the blood from clotting properly. There are several conditions that could cause a person to have a low platelet count.

Rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis which is also known as RA is well-known condition that can cause low platelets. Rheumatoid arthritis affect many people each year. Over an extended period of time rheumatoid arthritis can cause other medical problems such as tendons, cartilage and ligament damage.

Lupus.

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. It isis a very serious condition and causes the blood platelets to drop dramatically. The occurs when autoimmune system attacks its own tissue instead of the virus or bacteria in the body. There are treatments to help with the low platelets that are associated with lupus.

Bacteria in the blood.

Anytime bacteria is found in the blood this is a very serious problem. It can also be very dangerous and can lead to extreme illness in the person and sometimes death. The condition is very rare but can strike anyone at anytime, find more info.

Medications.

Different type of medications may cause a person’s platelet count to drop. Antibiotics and diuretics can cause the immune’s system to destroy the body’s platelets. It is important to take medications the way they are prescribed by a health care professional.

Anemia.

Anemia affects millions of people each year. A person who is anemic have a very low blood count. This condition can happen in both the young and the old. Individuals who are anemic experience different type of symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and wounds that are slow to heal. Anemia happens when the body have a low number of red blood cells.

Leukemia.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that is found in the bone marrow. This condition occurs when the bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal white blood cells. The white blood cells then do not function properly in the body to help fight off infections. There is different type of treatment to help with the symptoms associated with leukemia, but the process can be long and ongoing for years.

Viral infections.

Viral infections are hard to treat, and there is usually no cure for virus. There are many viruses that affect many people each year. But there are some very serious ones such as HIV that can cause the platelet count to become seriously low. Individuals with these low platelets brought on my such viruses can cause other types of dangerous infections.