The role of oral hygiene in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

OBJECTIVE

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired disease of children and adults defined as isolated thrombocytopenia with no clinically apparent associated conditions or other causes of thrombocytopenia. Oral manifestations are gingival bleeding, petechiae, mucocutaneous bleeding and haemorrhage into tissues.

CASE DESCRIPTION AND RESULTS

An 11-year-old Turkish female was referred to the periodontology clinic by the paediatric haematologist for the treatment of spontaneous gingival bleeding, gingival oedematous enlargement and hyperaemia. She was diagnosed as chronic ITP 6 months ago and she was told not to brush her teeth. She was also complaining with dull pain and oral malodor. She was motivated for oral hygiene and after consulting with paediatric haematologist, under the proper circumstances, dental plaque and calculus were removed. Healing was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

Oral hygiene motivation and dental plaque control is crucial in order to prevent gingival bleeding, inflammation and severe periodontal diseases in patients with haematologic disorders. Understanding of the oral findings is essential in the management of patients and close cooperation between patients' dentist and haematologist is needed. Dental consultation is essential for diagnosis and improvement of medical conditions. It is possible to obtain adequate oral hygiene with limited performance and haematologic disorders are not handicaps for dental/periodontal procedures under the proper circumstances.