4. Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C, a condition that causes inflammation of the liver, is another common cause of low platelet counts. Hepatitis C is caused by a highly contagious virus, aptly named the hepatitis C virus or HCV. When someone contracts this virus, the blood becomes contaminated, and the hepatitis C infection spreads throughout the body. The infection attacks on the liver and inflames the organ.
The liver is the largest internal organ and it plays the crucial role of processing blood and filtering out toxins that enter the body. It also generates proteins, which are components of the blood, as well as bile, which aids in digestion.
The liver stores essential vitamins and glucose, as well. When the liver is inflamed, it’s unable to perform these vital functions. Proteins are essential component of platelets; hepatitis C impacts the liver’s ability to produce proteins, hence why platelet production is minimized.