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( 1999 )
What could be some of the causes of petechiae?
Petechiae (pe-TEE-key-ah) result from tiny areas of superficial bleeding into the skin. They appear as round, pinpoint-sized dots that are not raised. The color varies from red initially to bluish purple as they age and gradually disappear. Petechiae commonly appear on the lower legs, but may be generalized in distribution over the body. Hemorrhages into the skin are known as purpura and large areas of bleeding into the skin are known as eccymoses.
A common cause of a petechial rash is a marked decrease in the number of platelets circulating in the blood. Platelets are important components in the control of bleeding. Low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) may result from a wide range of causes. These include autoimmune factors, infections, drug reactions and bone marrow disorders such as leukemia. Infectious causes of petechiae include infectious mononucleosis, bacterial heart valve infections (infectious endocarditis), German measles (rubella), and a number of other viruses.
Because of the range of potential causes, the risk of more serious, internal bleeding associated with low platelets and the seriousness of infectious endocarditis, the appearance of a petechial rash should receive a prompt medical evaluation.