Petechiae – Definition, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What are Petechiae?

Petechiae are the small, Reddish round blotches on the leg. There can be different causes; symptoms of these Reddish Bloteches, people suffering from this disease should know the Diagnosis and the treatments to recover from this disease.

Petechiae Definition

It is a medical condition that can cause small Red spots over the Skin of the leg. Every blotch is known as the Petechia. A group of this type of Blotches is known as the Petechiae.

Petechiae Color

When the Petechia rashes appear, they are of Red in color, with the passage of time they changes to Purple or Blue in color. At the final stages, it turn to dark Blue or dark Purple in appearance.

Petechiae Size

The normal size of these spots is 1 to 2 mm in size. They become less than 0.5 cm at the later stages. They do not have the diameter more than 3mm at any stage of the disease.

Petechiae Location

The rashes normally appear on the surface of Legs. At the later stages, they may be found on other areas of the body including Shoulder, Back, Thigh and Ankles.

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Facial Petechiae

It is a Petechiae type, in which the Reddish spots are formed on the Face. Petechiae on Face arise in the region of Eyes and the surroundings. This condition can also occur due to the Vomiting, Crying or Violent Cough.

Palatal Petechiae

It refers to the Petechiae spots that arise on the Palate of a person. It is mostly caused by the Streptococcal Bacteria Infection. These Blotches can also accompany Rubella, Infectious Mononucleosis, Palatal Trauma, Viral Fevers and Roseola.

Symptoms of Petechiae

The important symptoms of Petechiae are as follows:

Skin Spots

In this condition, the Reddish spots appear on the Skin or on the Legs. These spots are flat in the appearance and not high like rashes. These spots are flat because they are found inside the Skin. These rashes are not Blanch when pressed up on.

Change of Color

The Skin spots change color from Red to Brown and they ultimately turn to Purple.The Blotches sometimes look Brown or Dark Purple due to Oxidation of Blood.

Clustering of Spots

The Blotches arise individually at the initial stages. When more spots of the same type appear, they form clusters.

Causes of Petechiae

The Petechiae rashes arise due to many factors.

Following are the causes of the Petechia

1. Trauma

   Petechiae rashes appear due to Trauma on the Skin than any other reason.

2. Pressure

   If the excessive pressure is applied on the body, it may give rise to these spots. Tightly wrapping of compression bandage can also give rise to such Blotches.

3. Hemorrhage

   When the Capillary Vessels of the Skin gets injured, it may lead to Hemorrhage. Red blood may leak from the Capillaries and accumulates under the Skin due to the absence of cut or any opening under the Skin.

4. Allergy

   Some medications cause Allergenic reactions in the body that may give rise to the Petechiae spots.

5. Fever

   People, who suffer from fever, often develop these spots. It usually occurs when Meningococcus Bacterium is present in the Bloos stream.

6. Thrombocytopenia

   This disease occurs due to the Low amount of Platelets in the body. It generally occurs as the side effect of the medicine when a person suffers from an infection. The function of the Platetlet is disturbed and it results in the Petechiae.

7. Leukemia

   It is a life threatening disorder like Bone Marrow Cancers. Leukemia can result in the Low Platelet amount. It is one of the main causes of Petechiae.

8. Medicines

   This Skin condition can arise due to the side effect of drugs such as Heparin, Aspirin, Warfarin and Cortisone.It can also be an adverse effect of Chemotherapy and the Radiation therapy.

9. Viral Infections

   Viral Infections may result in the abnormal Blood clotting which can lead to these spots.

10. Autoimmune Diseases

    An Autoimmune disease can show a rapid reaction from the Immune system of the body. The body produces the antibodies that may attack the tissues and other organs of the body considering them as the foreign bodies. This may result in the damage of the tissues and can cause the Blood Leakage.

Diagnosis of Petechiae

The Differential diagnosis is made that distinguishes the disease from other similar conditions including

• Purpura

• Hypersensitivity Angiitis

• Rickettsialpox

• Scurvy

• Wiskott – Aldrich syndrome

• Thrombocytopenia

• Petechiae

Petechiae Treatment

The treatment of Petechiae is done by treating the underlying reasons responsible for the Blotches. Following are the ways to treat this disease

1. Stopping Medications

   If the allergic reaction is caused by medications, the dosage should be immediately stopped. It is the first option.

2. Ice Application

   If the spots are due to the injuries of Blood Capillaries, Ice should be applied to the affected area, it can cure the condition. Place the Paper Towel between the Ice pack and the Skin; it will avoid the damage to the Skin.

3. Antibiotics

   If the spots are due to any Infection, then the Antibiotic Medications are recommended for the treatment.

4. Surgery

   The Petechiae Leukemia or Malignant conditions like Cancer is found to the cause of these spots, a Surgical Operation becomes necessary for the treatment.

5. Platelet Transfusion

   If low Platelet amount is the cause of Petechiae on Legs etc then it is cured by the Platelet Transfusion.

Difference between Petechiae and Purpura

It is difficult to differentiate between the Petechiae and Purpura, whether the tiny Red spots arising on the Skin are due to the Petechiae or Purpura. The diameter of Petechiae spots in maximum 3mm in size while the Purpura rashes are larger in size. The diameter of the Purpura rashes is about 5mm.

A bigger spot than the Purpura is known as the Bruise or Ecchymosis.

The Petechiae is medical condition that can be cured very fast with the proper treatment. If you notice small spots on your body, do not delay the treatment; get it checked by the doctor as early as possible. The treatment at the earlier stages can cure you faster with this uncomfortable condition.