Petechia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ICD-10 | R23.3 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 782.7 |
A petechia (IPA pronunciation: [pə'tiki.ə]), plural petechiae (IPA pronunciation: [pə'tiki.aɪ]) is a small red or purple spot on the body, caused by a minor hemorrhage (broken capillary blood vessels). Forceful coughing or vomiting can cause facial petechiae, especially around the eyes. Newborns often have facial petechiae from the tight squeeze through the cervix. Thus petechiae are fairly common and in general of no concern.
Heavy lifting may lead to petechiae that resemble thin red lines on the shoulders. Petechiae are also often found in cases of manual or ligature strangulation. Because petechiae are associated with shaken baby syndrome and various forms of strangulation, they are signs of concern in cases of suspected child abuse.
Petechiae are a sign of thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts), other disorders of coagulation. If they appear during illness, especially illness with fever, they may be a sign of septicemia (blood-borne bacterial infection), especially of Meningococcus (a causative agent of meningitis). The presence of petechiae in a sick child is therefore an important warning sign.
Petechiae in adults should always be quickly investigated. They can be interpreted as Vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels, which requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent damage. Some malignancies can also cause petechiae to appear. In anyone over eighteen, petechiae should be investigated by a physician within a day or so to rule out the more dangerous conditions. Dermatologists can be the most helpful specialists in these conditions, because they can more easily identify if the condition is petechiae or some similar looking but less worrisome rash.
