Medicines to Avoid Children with ITP should not take medicines that decrease their platelet count or inhibit the platelets’ work to stop bleeding. These medications include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®). It may not be obvious that a product contains aspirin or ibuprofen. You should always check the medication label and call your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. Because some herbs and supplements may be harmful, be sure to tell your child’s healthcare provider all the medicines that your child is taking, including medications that do not require a prescription.
Surgery The spleen is an organ on the upper left side of the abdo - men under the ribs. The spleen cleans the blood and removes old blood cells. The spleen also helps to fight infections. In ITP, white blood cells in the spleen called B-lymphocytes produce antibodies against platelets. Plate- lets that are coated with antibodies are removed from the blood by the spleen. Removing the spleen often helps to increase the platelet count. Surgery to remove the spleen is called a splenectomy . About 75% of children with ITP are cured with a splenec - tomy; however, this is a major surgery with a risk of serious
bleeding during the procedure. After the spleen is removed, your child will have an increased risk of infection for the rest of their life. After a splenectomy, your healthcare provider may recommend that your child take antibiot - ics by mouth once a day to prevent blood infections. Fever in a child who has had a splenectomy is a medical emergency. If your child has had a splenectomy and has a fever, it is important to see your healthcare provider right away. Because of these risks, splenectomy is only used to treat children who have had a low platelet count for more than 1 year or who have serious bleeding that does not respond to medications. HOW CAN I WORK WITH THE HEALTHCARE TEAM? The care of your child requires a team approach. You are a key player on your child’s healthcare team. You know your child better than anyone else, and your input is important. Other members of your child’s healthcare team include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers. Always communicate openly with the members of your child’s healthcare team. If there is anything you are not sure about, ask the team. Write down your questions as you think of them, so you’ll remember to ask them dur - ing your next meeting with your healthcare team. • Is the ITP chronic or acute, and what does that mean? • What treatment choices are available? • What treatment do you recommend, and why?
• What are the risks or side effects during the treatment? • What are the risks and side effects after the treatment? • How will ITP impact my child’s daily life and future? • What are the chances that the ITP will recur (happen again)?
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