Management of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is not an uncommon bleeding disorder with a prevalence of 40-80 per million children per year. Over the last six decades, the subject of ITP has attracted the attention of pediatricians and hematologists. It is one of the subjects which has many controversies because of its unpredictable course heralded by remission relapses, and chronicity with mortality in less than 1% of cases. In the present review only the controversies in the management of acute and chronic ITP have been reviewed as it interests most pediatricians. Management of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage and menorrhagia continues to still remain a challenge in spite of newer therapies.