Watch and Wait: Why doing nothing is sometimes the best medicine.

For many parents, hearing that their child has ITP is overwhelming. But what can feel even more confronting is being told that the best approach might be to “watch and wait.” In this episode of Beyond the Count, Danielle Boyle is joined by paediatric haematologist Dr Melanie Jackson to explain why observation-based care is often the safest and most appropriate first step for children with ITP. Together, they discuss: • What “watch and wait” actually means in real life • Why many children recover without treatment • How clinicians assess bleeding risk rather than relying on platelet counts alone • The signs and symptoms parents should be monitoring at home • When treatment becomes necessary and what that looks like • How to support your child to live as normally and safely as possible This episode provides clear, practical guidance for parents navigating early diagnosis. It helps reframe “doing nothing” as active, evidence-based care, while giving families the tools and confidence to monitor, support, and advocate for their child. Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2515735/su...) Thanks for listening to Beyond the Count For more information, resources and lived experiences about Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), visit ITPANZ.org.au (https://www.itpanz.org.au) . 📱 Follow us on social media: Instagram: @ITP_ANZ (  / itp_anz  ) Facebook: facebook.com/ITPANZ (  / itpanz  ) LinkedIn: ITP Australia & New Zealand (  / itp-anz  ) YouTube: @ITPANZ (   / @itpanz  ) 🎧 Subscribe to Beyond the Count on your preferred podcast platform so you never miss an episode. Do you have feedback or a story to share? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected]