ITP is back, 4 years after "remission"

My 7 year old son was just re-diagnosed with ITP last week, count at 24,000. His first episode was when he was 2 1/2 and hit bottom at 6,000. Worked closely with pediatritian and hematologist with the wait and see approach. Took him 6 months, but his body did it. I honestly thought we would never be back here! Here's my question---does this make any sense at all? I am not sure if maybe it never went away at all, and just didn't have low dips in his numbers for a few years, OR, can it completlely go away, then reoccur? Thoughts anyone? Thanks!

Sak:

As you may or may not know, ITP is caused by antibodies against platelets. Those antibodies can come and go. It would be my guess that your son had a long remission, and something triggered antibody production once again. A virus or medication, such as antibiotics, can do that. Sometimes you never know what causes a person to come out of remission.

ITP can always recur. I hope he ends up with another remission soon!

My son was diagnosed at age 5 and we struggled for 6 years. We had some good times and bad times but on average he hung around 30K. First 6 months, I treated but then we did the wait-and-see approach. This last January, he had rhino-plasty surgery to fix his deviated septum. His last count 6 months earlier was 250K and before surgery 130K. Though I didn't worry too much, we went to hemo in March and he was 69K. He has continued to drop slowly since and we are currently sitting at 13K. Waiting to see where he bottoms out. But, he feels good and no bleeding symptoms. He was in remission for 5 years. As Sandy said, we just don't know why. I keep trying to think but there are no definite answers. Aaron had a couple stomach bugs this winter but don't they all. Why this time? Wish I had an answer. Maybe stress, he is a sophomore and he has struggled this year. I am still hoping that he will go back up, but if not, we are prepared. The ideology of ITP has most certainly come along way since my son was diagnosed. So, I hope that your son will again go back into remission quickly.