Who Is At Risk for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Both children and adults can develop idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Children usually get the acute (temporary) type of ITP. This type of ITP often develops after an infection caused by a virus. Adults tend to get the chronic (long-lasting) type of ITP. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to get chronic ITP.

ITP is a fairly common blood disorder, with 50 to 150 new cases per every 1 million people each year; about half of these cases are in children. However, the number of cases of ITP is increasing because routine blood tests that show a low platelet count are being done more often.

You can’t catch ITP from another person.