THROMBOCYTOPENIA

It occurs when platelets fall below the normal range of 150–400×10^9 per litre of blood

REDUCED PRODUCTION OF PLATELETS

● Infections, e.g. typhoid, brucellosis
● Deficiency of folate or vitamin B12
● Aplastic anaemia
● Drugs (e.g. cytotoxic, quinine, aspirin), chemicals
(e.g. benzene), some herbal remedies, alcoholism
● Leukemias, lymphoma, myeloma, myelofibrosis, carcinoma
● Hereditary thrombocytopenia (rare condition).

INCREASED DESTRUCTION OR CONSUMPTION OF
PLATELETS

● Infections, e.g. acute falciparum malaria, dengue, trypanosomiasis, visceral leishmaniasis
● Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
● Hypersplenism
● Immune destruction of platelets, e.g. idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), other connective tissue disorders, chronic lymphatic leukaemia, lymphomas and HIV/AIDS. Also, exposure to drugs, e.g. quinine, mefloquine, penicillin, and some herbal remedies.