The symptoms of thrombocytopenia (low platelets) depend on how low the platelets are. Thrombocytopenia is considered when platelets are below 150,000 / mm3.
Platelets are cells made in the bone marrow that have the property of clotting the blood and helping a wound to stop bleeding.
The symptoms most common are bleeding cutaneous mucosal lesions that occur spontaneously when platelets are below 30,000 / mm3. They may occur:
- small red dots on the body (petechiae or punctate hemorrhages);
- bleeding gums (gingival bleeding);
- heavy menstrual bleeding;
- bleeding in the urine or stool;
- bleeding of greater intensity when an injury occurs;
- bleeding from the nose (epistaxis).
It is important to stress that platelets are not the only ones involved in the coagulation cascade. Therefore, other diseases can lead to bleeding, without any change in platelet count.
It is also important to see the evolution of platelet count over a period of time, as there are variations considered normal. However, persistent low platelet count should be better investigated by a general practitioner or hematologist.
