What is Petechia?

Petechia is a small red spot that looks like a tweezer on the skin caused by bleeding just below the skin. Bleeding usually occurs due to broken capillary blood vessels, which in most cases cause not only one petechia but also numerous and is referred to as petechiae or purpura. This may be due to a number of conditions, some of them serious.

In order to distinguish between redness of skin and petechia or petechiae, the skin should be slightly pushed with a finger. If the area does not lose its red color, it is petechia, unlike redness of the skin that will pale for a while. Petechiae are generally smooth to the touch, unlike other rashes, which can cause increased stain or blisters. Blue or ecchymosis are usually caused by deeper bleeding under the skin surface. The doctor then gives the cause to determine the cause and treat it if necessary. Petechiae can also be caused by less serious conditions. They may occur in people with fragile veins, especially in older people where OZIt taught as a senile purpura, in which case no treatment is required except caution and avoidance of trauma.

Some serious conditions that may have petechiae as a symptom include idiopathic thrombocytopenic purple (ITP), haemolytic uremic syndrome (Hus) and leukemia. Some medicines can also cause it as a side effect. ITP is a disorder that occurs when the levels of the plates decrease, which disrupts the normal process of clotting in the body. The cause of ITP is unknown and treatment can consist of corticosteroids and immunoglobulin, if necessary. ITP, especially if it is mild, is often solved by itself, especially in children.

Hus is a condition where red blood cells are estroyed and block the kidneys. This can lead to severe kidney dysfunction. In many cases, the cause is not known again, but may be the result of serious or long -term diarrhea caused by E. coli. It can also be caused by themby which medicines. Urgent diagnosis and hospital treatment are required. Treatment may include fluid replacement, blood transfusion and dialysis.

Petechiae can also be caused by long -term treatment of drugs such as corticosteroids. This is because they weaken connective tissue. It is very important that any case of petechiae or rash is urgently examined by a doctor to exclude any serious conditions.