[Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children. Apropos of 98 cases].

The authors report a retrospective study of 98 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children. The sex ratio was 1/1 and the mean age 5 years. A history of viral infection preceded the purpura in 45% of the cases. Sudden onset was observed in 81%. The platelet count was less than 20,000 mm3 in 78.5%. A follow-up was obtained in 79 patients: 76% had an acute disease. A spontaneous remission occurred in 88.6% of the cases, most of them in the first six months (49 cases/68), and in 10 cases/68 between 7 and 11 months after onset. Six patients presented one or two relapses prior to recovery. The illness became chronic in 11% of the patients despite prednisone therapy. Four patients were treated by splenectomy, in 3 cases with success. Two children died, one girl from cerebral haemorrhage and one boy from septicemia.