title: Childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: report of 60 cases from Kuwait.
abstract: Sixty children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were admitted to a regional hospital in Kuwait over a 6-year period. A high annual incidence of ITP (12.5/10(5] was noted, probably related to viral infections during the period of the study. Forty-one were patients with acute ITP and 19 with chronic ITP. The initial treatment varied: corticosteroids were given in 33 cases, no therapy in 23 cases, and intravenous gamma globulin (IVGG) in four cases. Splenectomy was carried out in two children, of whom one died 2 years later as a result of septicaemia. This study showed that conservative management can be adopted in mild cases of ITP and active measurements should be reserved for patients presenting with moderate-severe mucocutaneous bleeding and significant thrombocytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Farwania Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hassanein
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Khalil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011696:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy