My cousin's son had ITP, do you know what it is? I looked it up but unfamiliar with the term.?

Answer 1

Justin is right

Idiopathic Thrombocytopaenic Purpura (ITP)

Autoimmune really, rather than idiopathic. Platelets are destroyed by antibodies that the body makes. Usually making these antibody proteins is a response to certain drugs or sometimes viruses ... but the antigen that stimulates it is similar enough to something on the platelets that they attack instead.

uncommon-rare - women more than men, one group in adulthood (usually 40's or 50's) and there is a childhood form.

The wiki page is quite concise.

Answer 2

ITP is a bleeding disorder that is identified by having too few platelets. In those with ITP, the immune system destroys platelets for unknown reasons.

Antibodies are produced by lymphocytes and they attack the platelets. Platelets are required for adequate blood clotting. If antibodies are present on platelets, they are destroyed in the spleen. Easy bruising, skin rash, or sudden GI (gastrointestinal) bleeding may occur. It is not uncommon for there to be no other symptoms.

Answer 3

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Itp/ITP_WhatIs.html