Pope Francis news: What is thrombocytopenia, the condition the pontiff is diagnosed with?

Pope Francis, who was admitted to Vatican's Gemelli Hospital, is battling a complex health condition and has been diagnosed with many issues ever since getting hospitalised. The 88-year-old, who already had double pneumonia, mild renal failure and various respiratory issues, was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia on Saturday. The National Institute of Health (NIH) explains it as a platelet count below the normal limit of 150000/microliter for adults.
The condition, in which his blood platelet count gets low, can occur due to bone marrow disorders like leukaemia or an immune system problem, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can also come up as a side effect of certain medicines. Experts also speculate that the Pope's condition is probably due to his ongoing illnesses and a combination of many factors like medications, treatments, various infections like pneumonia and his renal insufficiency. 

What happens when someone has the condition?
According to the NIH, the following can happen when someone has a low platelet count:
1) Spontaneous bleeding and surgical bleeding
2) Tiny purple or red dots called petechiae or bruises called purpura can appear on the skin as small blood vessels are leaking
3) Weakness, dizziness, fatigue
4) Brain hemorrhages
5) Gum bleeding and nosebleeds
Pope's thrombocytopenia
As of now, thrombocytopenia is stable in the Pope. He is also given high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannulas as a respiratory treatment, which delivers humidified and heated oxygen at a high rate for those who find it tough to breathe. It can also reduce his respiratory distress and prevent the need for intubation. 
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