Onyalai is a form of thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is a relative decrease of platelets in blood.A normal human platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. These limits are determined by the 2.5th lower and upper percentile, so values outside this range do not necessarily indicate disease...

 that affects some of the population in areas of central Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

.  Onyalai exhibits similarities to idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is the condition of having an abnormally low platelet count of no known cause . As most incidents of ITP appear to be related to the production of antibodies against platelets, immune thrombocytopenic purpura or immune thrombocytopenia are terms also used to...

 (ITP) but differs in pathogenesis

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of a disease is the mechanism by which the disease is caused. The term can also be used to describe the origin and development of the disease and whether it is acute, chronic or recurrent...

.  The affected age range is from less than a year to 70 years and seems to not be gender-specific in the same manner as ITP.  Cases generally peak between 11 and 20 years old.  Although the cause of onyalai is not known at this time, inadequate nutrition

Nutrition

Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....

 and/or the consumption of tainted food are suspected.

Signs and symptoms

Onyalai is an acute disease that results in the development of hematoma

Hematoma

A hematoma, or haematoma, is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually in liquid form within the tissue. This distinguishes it from an ecchymosis, which is the spread of blood under the skin in a thin layer, commonly called a bruise...

 on oral mucous membranes. Hemorrhagic lesion

Lesion

A lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...

s may develop on the skin, including on the soles of the feet.  The patient does not initially appear to be in distress, which may result in a delay of diagnosis.  As the disease progresses, hematuria

Hematuria

In medicine, hematuria, or haematuria, is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. It may be idiopathic and/or benign, or it can be a sign that there is a kidney stone or a tumor in the urinary tract , ranging from trivial to lethal...

 and melena

Melena

In medicine, melena or melaena refers to the black, "tarry" feces that are associated with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The black color is caused by oxidation of the iron in hemoglobin during its passage through the ileum and colon.-Melena vs...

 will develop.  Epistaxis, petechiae and ecchymoses are common symptoms, as are subconjunctival bleeding and menorrhagia

Menorrhagia

Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular intervals. Causes may be due to abnormal blood clotting, disruption of normal hormonal regulation of periods or disorders of the endometrial lining of the uterus...

.  On average, bleeding will persist for approximately eight days, and may reoccur.  Approximately 80 percent of cases will exhibit chronic thrombocytopenia.  Periodic episodes of acute hemorrhage are also possible and may be severe, possibly leading to shock and death

Death

Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....

.