What cause blood platelets to be low in a person?
Low platelet count (termed as thrombocytopenia) have different causes. Decreased platelet production by the bone marrow is a common cause. Many factors can affect the production of platelets which include: >>Medical conditions affecting the bone marrow such as leukemia causes decrease in platelet production. >>Some viral infections and medicines can suppress the platelet production. >> Chemotherapy, heavy alcohol consumption and some form of cancer can also impair the platelet production. Increased break down of the platelets caused by conditions where the body uses the platelet so fast more than what is produced resulting to shortage of circulating platelets. Some of the affecting conditions include: pregnancy, septicemia (or blood poisoning caused by a systemic infection), autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Other disorders include: >>idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura -platelets are misidentified and attacked by own system. Some medicine (heparin, rifampin,s
