What are Petechiae?
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 154, Word Count: 680,
Petechiae are skin problem which happen due to several reasons. When such problem takes place, small red spots appear on the skin. These red spots are breakage of small blood vessels which lies under the skin. If you want to know what are petechiae, then you have come to the right place. Here is a brief description about how this problem occurs and how you can deal with it.
Situation When Petechiae Occur
Petechiae occur due to different reasons. It is one skin disorder which can be distinguished from other red spots on the skin. Such problem occurs mostly on the body areas where pressure in your veins takes place during blood circulation. Places like feet and ankles can get petechiae easily. Sometimes, it also occurs on the abdomen. Other situations can be:
1. If a person has lung cancer, this problem is likely to happen
2. Low platelets counts
3. Problem of ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura)
4. Bloodstream infection
5. Autoiimmunie diseases
6. Thrombocythemia
7. Local injury
8. Impair blood clotting due to viral infections
Causes of Petechiae
The common causes of this disease are:
- Trauma
- Local injury
- Leukemia
- Heparin asprin
- Cortisone
- Violent vomiting
- Lupus
- Rheumatois arthritis
- Measles
- Mononucleosis
- Chemotherapy
- Itching on the same spot for a long time
- HUS ( Hemolytic uremic syndrome)
Symptoms of Petechiae
There are no specific signs or symptoms of this problem. The only thing you will notice is red spots on your skin due to injury or some allergic reaction. It is not even painful and fades away once the cause is treated.
Diagnosing Petechiae
There are different causes of petechiae. To diagnose this problem, you doctor will first perform some physical tests and check you history. He will perform blood tests like:
- CBC ( Complete blood count)
- Platelet count
- Bleeding time
- Sertain test to measure clotting abilities like partial thromboplastin time
- RBC and WBC count
Treating Petechiae
If you find any of such petechiae signs on your body, then immediately visit your doctor. The doctor will treat the problem only after determining the bleeding cause. If the reason behind bleeding is some kind of infection, then the doctor will prescribe you some antibiotics. If it is caused due to some allergic reaction to certain medicine, then the doctor will advise you to stop taking those medicines. If the problem has taken place due to low level of platelet count, then the doctor will prescribe you either steroids or if you don't develop platelets on your own, then blood transfusion is done. If the person is suffering from cancer, then no treatment will be given as it is one of the signs of chemotherapy. However, applying an ice pack on the affected area can reduce the petechiae. The treatment is given to cure the cause and not petechiae, as it will fade and disappear soon after the cause is cured. Hence, it is always better to look for the cause first once the petechiae occur.
Avoiding petechiae is not always possible. However, there are certain preventive steps that you can take to prevent petechiae caused due to injury. It is always necessary to take care of your delicate skin by avoiding medicines to which you are allergic or getting any kind of skin injury. By treating the problem promptly can prevent sepsis.
There are numerous reasons because of which Petechiae occur. If your concept of what are Petechiae is not clear yet, then talk to your doctor. He will guide you well about the necessary precautions that you need to take at the same time. The problem is neither painful nor severe.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy
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