Do you know what causes purpura (purple bruise)?

 

Purpura is a generic term for diseases that are prone to purple bruises (purpura) caused by subcutaneous bleeding, including several diseases. Purpura from subcutaneous hemorrhage is nothing to worry about, as it can happen to anyone as long as it is temporary. However, caution is required in cases where multiple purpura appears, spot-shaped purpura appears extensively, or recurrent purpura. This time, we will introduce the detailed symptoms, characteristics, and treatment methods of purpura.

What kind of disease is purpura?

If you have purpura, you will experience the following symptoms:

• Multiple purpura appear at once
• Small spot-like purpura is widespread or spreading
• As the frequency of purpura increases, it appears repeatedly even if it disappears once

If you have symptoms like this, it's most likely a purpura. If it is temporary, there is no need to worry, but diseases such as leukemia or hemophilia may be hidden.

What causes purpura?

There are 7 main causes of purpura, and among them, it can be divided into pathological and non-pathological ones.

• due to a decrease or increase in platelets
• Inflammation or abnormality of blood vessels
• platelet dysfunction
• blood clotting abnormalities
• external factors such as bumps
• Changes according to constitution or age
• Pharmaceutical properties by taking aspirin, etc.

Those who are susceptible to external factors or who are physically prone to subcutaneous bleeding do not need to worry too much because it is not a pathological reason. In addition, drug-induced purpura is often caused by side effects of drugs. And the pathological cause that makes purpura easy to occur is due to an abnormality in the platelet count or an abnormality in blood vessels. Platelets are one of the three major components of blood and mainly play a hemostatic role. When platelets decrease, bleeding occurs easily even with minor injuries or the blood does not stop well. Also, an excessive increase in platelets can reduce hemostasis, making bleeding easier.

In addition, abnormalities in blood vessels can also be cited as one of the causes of purpura, because the walls of blood vessels weaken due to inflammation, etc., making it easier for blood to leak. Purpura caused by an abnormality in the platelet count is called 'platelet purpura', and purpura caused by an abnormality in blood vessels is called 'vascular purpura'. Diseases that cause thrombocytopenic purpura include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, as well as those due to hematological tumor diseases such as aplastic anemia and acute leukemia.

Describe the characteristics of a person prone to purpura.

Because the causes of purpura vary depending on the constitution and age, there is no particular characteristic of people who are prone to developing purpura. However, if you are allergic, you are 3 to 10 years old, and if you have senile purpura, as the name suggests, it is easy to develop in the elderly. In addition, it is thought that there is a possibility that the disease may be caused by abnormal immune function due to excessive stress, and research is ongoing.

I have heard that there are several types of purpura, but what are the differences?

There are three main types of allergic purpura (IgA vasculitis): idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and anaphylactoid purpura. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is a disease in which platelets are reduced by destroying one's own platelets due to an abnormality in immune antibodies. There are acute and chronic phases, acute phase in children and chronic phase in adults. In addition to purpura, symptoms such as bleeding gums or nosebleeds may appear. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is a disease in which platelets decrease because the function of the enzyme that regulates platelet coagulation is reduced and the clotting capacity of platelets is increased, resulting in the formation of a large amount of blood clots. In addition to purpura, symptoms such as soluble anemia or kidney or brain dysfunction may appear. Both diseases are recognized as incurable diseases because the cause is unknown. Unlike the other two, allergic purpura is a vascular disease. Although the exact cause of this disease is not known, most of the cases are children aged 3 to 10 years, and it is often followed by a dragon fungus or mycoplasma infection.

What is the diagnosis and test method for purpura?

Blood tests are usually done when purpura is suspected. The number of platelets or clotting factors is tested to see if they are decreasing. In addition, if allergic purpura is suspected, a urine test is performed. If there are other symptoms such as abdominal pain other than purpura, it is necessary to check whether there are any abnormalities in the organs such as X-rays or abdominal CT.

How long does the inspection take?

The examination itself is often completed at the end of the examination, and in some hospitals, the results of imaging tests such as urine tests and X-rays can be heard within the same day. Blood tests often take several days to get results, because the days they take vary depending on what is being investigated.

If purpura is suspected, which department is best to see?

For children, it is recommended to see a pediatrician. If there is a hospital in charge, it is best to consult there, but if you do not have a primary care physician, we recommend that you first see a dermatologist.

Please tell us about the dangers of leaving purpura unattended.

Even if purpura occurs, there is no need to worry so much if it is temporary and disappears immediately. However, if purpura occurs repeatedly or has a wide range, see a doctor once. Purpura may be a designated intractable disease that is recognized depending on its cause. In addition, serious diseases such as acute leukemia or aplastic anemia can be hidden behind purpura, so it is very dangerous to leave it unattended. If left untreated, in some cases, important organs such as the brain or digestive tract may bleed, and there is a risk of life-threatening.

Treatment methods and precautions for purpura

Treatment for this disease varies depending on the cause and condition at the time, and steroid therapy or immunosuppressants are often used for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. In addition, drugs that increase the number of platelets are sometimes used, and if the effect of the drug is not obtained, surgery to remove the spleen to destroy platelets is sometimes performed. In thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the basic treatment is to replace plasma, which is a blood component, with fresh one.

Depending on the condition, steroid therapy may be used in combination. There is no fundamental treatment for allergic purpura, and symptomatic treatment is the basis.

Can purpura be cured?

In allergic or vascular purpura, symptoms often subside when resting, and in some cases, immunosuppressive drugs or hospitalization are available, but in most cases it can be cured. Please tell me if there are any precautions to be taken during or after treatment. There is no need to limit your actions in your daily life, let's avoid stress and lead a regular life. If the platelet count is low and bleeding is easy, it is easy to cause bleeding.

Do you have any preventive measures?

Because the cause of purpura is not clearly known, there is no known way to prevent it.

If bruising tends to occur or symptoms such as repeated internal bleeding appear, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Purpura is a disease that does not have a clear prevention method because the cause is unknown, but there may be a natural cure depending on the symptoms. If you have symptoms such as "internal bleeding has occurred even though you have no memory of the encounter" or "peccary internal bleeding is in a wide range", see a doctor once. If internal bleeding occurs and disappears quickly, do not worry too much.

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If you have purpura, it is important to first rest and avoid stress. When symptoms are severe, immunosuppressive drugs or hospitalization are sometimes used for treatment. If you have symptoms such as easy bruising, internal bleeding that does not go away, or spreading of internal bleeding in small spots, it is best to see a doctor and get an examination as soon as possible. If left unattended, purpura often bleeds from organs such as the brain, so it is very dangerous to leave it unattended.