You might have commonly witnessed some form of rashes or bruises on various body parts that you felt like they appeared from nowhere. Isn’t it?
Well, you might start to wonder if something bit you or if you got hurt by something. But that’s not the case! There is a high chance that the rashes or bruises might be the purpura disease.
Purpura is a common skin condition that might indicate that something is wrong with your health. It is a sign that you need some form of medical attention before the purpura disease worsens. Even though it is a common issue, most people are unaware of it and miss out on taking treatments.
So, read along this article till the end to find out what purpura is, how to diagnose it, and how doctors recommend its treatment.
What is Purpura Disease?
Purpura is one of the health conditions where you will be spotting some bruise-like or patch appearance of the skin. These bruises might also appear in the mucus membrane, either in your throat or mouth. Purpura is not a dedicated medical condition but is a symptom that occurs due to some other underlying issues.
This disease is quite common among the older-aged people, mostly those who are above 55 years of age. These rashes often appear brownish-black or reddish-purple on dark or fair skin tones, respectively.
What are the Causes of Purpura?
In general, the perpetual disease causes are linked to the bursting of small blood vessels, which causes the blood to spread under the skin and create a pool. As a result, this creates purple spots over the skin, which range in size from smaller dots to bigger patches. In most cases, the doctors diagnose Purpura spots to be benign, but at times, it might indicate a repercussion of some serious medical adversity, such as blood clotting disorder.
At times, the drop in platelet levels will result in excessive bleeding or bruising. Platelets are those cells that support the clotting of blood. When you have a lower level of platelets in your body, it might be genetic or inherited. Beyond that, some of the other issues that might trigger the purpura skin disease are as follows:
- Bone marrow transplants
- Cancer
- Chemotherapy
- HIV Infections
- Stem Cell transplants
- Use of certain medications
- Oestrogen therapies
Purpura disease is basically categorised into two types: thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic! The meaning of non-thrombocytopenic is that you have a usual count of platelet levels within your blood, and thrombocytopenic means your platelet count is normal than the lower levels.
Some of the nonthrombocytopenic purpura disease causes include:
- Disorders that affect the blood clotting issue.
- Certain congenital disorders are present before or after birth.
- Weaker blood vessels
- Blood vessel inflammation
- Scurvy
On the other hand, some of the thrombocytopenic purpura disease causes include:
- Medications prevent the formation of platelets.
- Drugs that trigger immune reactions against your blood platelets.
- Blood transfusions
- Immune disorders
- Bloodstream infection
- HIV infection
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
What are Some of the Symptoms to Realise Purpura Disease Effects?
The most evident symptoms of purpura disease are the rashes or bruises that you see over your skin. But, not all rashes or bruises are meant to indicate purpura disease. Therefore, here are some added symptoms that might indicate that your rashes or bruises are mostly due to purpura:
- Painless patches over the skin.
- Consistent irritation on the rashes
- Non-itchy rashes
If these above symptoms are followed by stomach pain, diarrhoea, kidney issues, nausea, tiredness, swollen joints, or other such issues, you shouldn’t delay your medical checkup. It is because purpura is itself an outcome of some underlying health issue.
How is Purpura Disease Diagnosed by Medical Experts?
At the start, your doctor will be diagnosing your condition for what might be the underlying disease that is triggering the skin to experience purpura. In the process of diagnosing or assessing your condition, they might ask your family about your health history, mostly about when the spots started to show up for the first time.
The doctor might also perform a biopsy of the skin alongside blood and platelet counts. With the level of platelets in check, you will be able to identify the root cause of the purpura and will also assist the doctor in determining the best treatment method. Purpura tends to affect both adults as well as children but is most prevalent in old-aged people.
Children mostly experience this disease after any viral infection and will eventually recover from it without the need for any medication. Most children recover from such a condition within a few months after the onset of the disorder. However, in adults or elderly people, the purpura causes are mostly chronic and will demand treatment for the symptoms to be managed and the platelet count to be kept within the healthy range.
Also Read: Strep Throat: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment
How do Doctors Approach the Treatment of Purpura Disease?
There are various treatment options available associated with treating the purpura disease, and the doctors will recommend you with the most suitable option, depending on your specific cause.
Some of the treatment options associated with healing purpura disease are as follows:
-
Corticosteroids
The doctor might start implementing a corticosteroid medication, which will help boost the platelet count, decreasing the immune system activity. It will take around 2 to 6 weeks for the platelet count to return to a nominal level. Once that happens, the doctor will request you to discontinue the drug.
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Intravenous Immunoglobulin
If purpura is causing severe bleeding, an intravenous medication is recommended, which is referred to as the IVIG. If you are in need of increasing the platelet count of your body instantly, IVIG is the medication you need in priority. However, the effect triggered by this medication will be temporary, as you will need other procedures to permanently recover from your platelet dropping and purpura issue.
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Splenectomy
If the medications aren’t considered effective in treating the purpura disease, doctors might recommend the splenectomy disease. Removing the spleen is one of the best ways to increase the platelet count. This is because the spleen is considered the most crucial part that’s responsible for eliminating platelets.
However, splenectomies aren’t considered effective at all, and this surgery isn’t free of risks as well. For instance, this treatment procedure might trigger permanent infection risk. Therefore, this procedure is recommended only during emergencies.
Some of the other drug therapies that are mostly recommended to heal purpura disease of various intensities include:
- Nplate
- Eltrombopag
These two medications are meant to boost the bone marrow to produce enough platelets, and this reduces the risk of bleeding and bruising.
Conclusion
So, this is a clear understanding of what purpura is and how it commonly affects people, mostly in their older ages. It is a disease that acts as a sign or indication for other potential issues that are yet to be diagnosed. Purpura might happen in people of all ages, but older adults are the most common ones to experience it.
Agilus Diagnostics is one of the most popular medical facilities that offers you complete diagnosis and treatment associated with your purpura disease. All you have to do is book an appointment with us, and our medical experts shall attend to your case right away.
Our doctors will give you the best medications and will guide you with the right advice to maintain your optimal body platelet levels. Contact our expert medical consultants today!
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
