Which treatment is indicated for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is characterized by a low platelet count and is often managed through the use of corticosteroids, with prednisolone being a common choice. The physiological mechanism behind ITP involves an immune-mediated destruction of platelets, and corticosteroids help to mitigate this process by reducing the immune system's attack on the platelets. Prednisolone can increase platelet production and also decrease autoimmune activity, making it an effective treatment option.

In addition to its immediate effect on increasing platelet counts, using corticosteroids like prednisolone can also provide relief from symptoms associated with low platelet counts, such as bleeding and bruising. Therefore, it is considered a first-line treatment approach in cases of ITP, especially in children, where the condition may follow a viral illness and often resolves spontaneously.

Other treatments, such as vitamin K supplementation, are not applicable in ITP since the condition does not stem from a deficiency in clotting factors that vitamin K would address. Antifibrinolytics are primarily used to manage bleeding disorders related to excessive fibrinolysis and do not address the underlying problem in ITP. Intravenous antibiotics would be indicated for infections rather than platelet disorders. Thus, prednisolone therapy stands