Differential Diagnosis for Diarrhea with Thrombocytopenia
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): This includes conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which can cause chronic diarrhea and may lead to thrombocytopenia due to inflammation, malabsorption, or as a side effect of treatment.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Infectious gastroenteritis: Certain infections (e.g., bacterial, viral, or parasitic) can cause both diarrhea and thrombocytopenia, either through direct bone marrow suppression or as part of a systemic inflammatory response.
- Medication-induced diarrhea and thrombocytopenia: Various medications, including antibiotics, can cause diarrhea and may also induce thrombocytopenia as a side effect.
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS): Although more commonly associated with hemolytic anemia, HUS can also present with thrombocytopenia and diarrhea, particularly in the context of E. coli infections.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP): A rare but life-threatening condition characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, renal failure, neurological symptoms, and fever. Diarrhea can be a presenting symptom in some cases.
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): A condition that can arise from various causes, including severe infections, and is characterized by both thrombocytopenia and a coagulopathy. Diarrhea might be part of the underlying illness leading to DIC.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Whipple's disease: A rare, systemic bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and arthralgias, and may also lead to thrombocytopenia.
- Lymphoma: Certain types of lymphoma can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, and may also lead to thrombocytopenia due to bone marrow involvement or as a paraneoplastic syndrome.
- Vitamin deficiencies: Deficiencies in vitamins like B12 or folate can cause thrombocytopenia and may also lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, although this is less direct.