title: Unusual presentation of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: A snakebite victim presented with normal clotting profile and a low platelet count. A routine CBC in his past records (February 2004) showed a platelet count of 20,000/microlitre, but the patient was not symptomatic. We report a case of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, incidentally found in a patient presenting with snakebite. The patient also has acquired primary testicular failure. After the diagnosis the patient was on regular follow up. He caused trauma to the right external auditory canal and perforated his tympanic membrane. His left tympanic membrane was also scarred and retracted. Establishing a diagnosis of an ITP early is important so that the patient can take precaution to avoid undue trauma and monitor proper follow up.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine Department, Rustaq Hospital, Rustaq, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madhusudhanan
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yusuff