Petechiae are not a disease themselves but can be a sign of an underlying condition. They can occur in anyone and may be normal, but sometimes the cause needs to be determined, especially when there are many petechiae that appear rapidly.
Petechiae are small bleeding spots in the skin, as opposed to larger bleeding known as bruises or purpura. Petechiae occur when blood leaks out of the small blood vessels in the skin. They are typically red in colour, sometimes with a bluish or brownish tinge. Usually, petechiae can not be felt on the surface of the skin. Applying pressure to the skin will not cause the petechiae to disappear.
Petechiae can be caused by an increased tendency to bleed, and in some cases, there may be bleeding from other parts of the body (such as nosebleeds or increased menstrual bleeding). A blood test can help determine if there is a deficiency in blood platelets. Several medications can cause, such as the use of corticosteroids. A deficiency in vitamin C can also lead to petechiae. Petechiae can also occur with infections in the body, often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, malaise, or confusion. Meningococcal disease (meningitis) is a typical example, but petechiae can occur with several types of infections. Increased pressure inside the blood vessels can cause them to rupture, resulting in small bleeding spots like petechiae. This is most commonly seen with mechanical pressure on the tissue and blood vessels (such as severe coughing, weightlifting, childbirth, or strangulation).
To determine the cause of petechiae, a patient needs to be examined by a doctor, and it may be necessary to perform blood tests, test for infections, or obtain a tissue sample from the skin or other organs.
Petechiae are usually not treated directly, but the underlying cause may need to be addressed in some cases.
Larger bleeding in the skin is often referred to as bruises or purpura. Petechiae can resemble small permanent blood vessels in the skin called telangiectasia, which are typically seen in conditions such as rosacea, sun-damaged skin on the face, pregnancy, and various other conditions. Capillaritis is a type of vasculitis characterized by inflammation of the smallest blood vessels in the skin, resulting in an eruption of many small red or brown dots. Other types of vasculitis can also cause rashes that resemble petechiae.
