LAHORE, Oct 24 (INP): Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif being shifted to hospital late Monday night. The medical board treating former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday confirmed that the PML-N supremo is suffering from acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). A doctor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the treatment has been started after the diagnosis was confirmed and Nawaz will recover in a week’s time. He further said that the disorder is treatable in Pakistan and intravenous treatment has commenced. “He does not have aplastic anaemia and his haemoglobin and WBC count (white blood cells) are normal. Platelets are low though,” said the doctor, who is well aware of the former premier’s treatment and health issues. The doctor added that Nawaz’s bonemarrow is also functioning normally and is making blood as it should in addition to a normal level of reticulocytes. What is immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) ITP is a disorder that can lead to excessive or easy bruising and bleeding from unusually low levels of platelets in the blood. Platelets help blood clot. The disorder can cause purple bruises as well as tiny reddish-purple dots that look like a rash. In adults, the disorder is usually long term while children can recover fully without treatment. ITP may have no signs and symptoms and when they do occur, they may include: • Easy or excessive bruising • Superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae) that look like a rash, usually on the lower legs • Bleeding from the gums or nose • Blood in urine or stools • Unusually heavy menstrual flow The disorder usually occurs when an individual’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys platelets. In adults, it may be triggered by infection with HIV, hepatitis or H. pylori – a bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.