Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which you have a low blood platelet count. Platelets (thrombocytes) are colorless blood cells, that help blood clot. Platelets stop bleeding by clumping and forming plugs in the blood vessel injuries.

Symptoms of thrombocytopenia are easy bruising, superficial bleeding in to the skin that appears as a rash or reddish spots (petechiae) usually on the lower legs, prolonged bleeding from cuts, bleeding in the gums or nose, blood in your urine, unusually heavy menstrual flows, fatigue, enlarged spleen or jaundice.

Normally, you will expect to have 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per mircoliter of circulating blood. Because each platelet lives for about 10 days your body continually renews your platelet supply, producing more platelets in your bone marrow.  Thrombocytopenia is when your blood platelet count falls below normal. It can be inherited, or it may be caused by a number of conditions or medications.

Some conditions cause your body to destroy or use up the blood platelets more rapidly than they are produced. Conditions could be pregnancy, immune thrombocytopenia, bacteria in the blood, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome or certain medications.

Some factors will decrease the production of platelets, such as Leukemia, anemia, viral infections like hepatitis C or HIV, heavy alcohol consumption.

The spleen, an organ which works to filter unwanted material from your blood, can become enlarged due to a number of disorders. If this occurs it may harbour too many platelets, decreasing the number in circulation.

Mild cases of thrombocytopenia may not need treatment, as the condition can clear up on its own. Some people develop severe or long-term (chronic) thrombocytopenia. Depending on the cause, treatments could include a blood or platelet transfusion, medication like corticosteroid if your condition is related to an immune system problem, or surgery to remove the spleen called splenectomy.