[Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children]

In children the rate of acute, transient ITP is much higher than the chronic form of ITP. Often acute childhood ITP is a para- or postinfectious event. Pathophysiologically bleeding symptoms mainly depend on the ratio between normal or increased platelet production and early destruction of platelets. The management of ITP has to be focused on the individual bleeding symptoms rather than to the platelet count (see staging system). Today's treatments are directed against the disturbed immune response. As recent guidelines and surveys demonstrate opinion based recommendations have to be challenged by evidence based clinical research in ITP (see www.unibas.ch/itpbasel).