Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood: a population-based study in Qatar.

OBJECTIVE To find the pattern of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (acute/chronic) and to describe presenting features and clinical characteristics of the disease in children below 14 years of age in a newly developed Arabian society. METHODS This retrospective, descriptive study was carried out at the Pediatric Department of the Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. A total of 50 children below 14 years of age who were diagnosed with ITP during the period 2000-2005 were included. RESULTS Among the studied children (50), 62% were diagnosed with acute ITP and 38% with chronic ITP. Acute ITP was more prevalent in boys (64.5%) when compared with girls (35.5%), whereas for chronic ITP, nearly an equal distribution was found in boys (57.9%) and girls (42.1%). Preceding viral infection was common in both acute (71%) and chronic (63.2%) ITP cases; 68% of the children with ITP showed a platelet count below 20x10(9)/L at the time of presentation. Most of the studied children were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (74%). CONCLUSIONS The study revealed a high incidence of ITP among children in Qatar. The study findings are in line with other international reports.