Petechia

Small red or purple blemish on the skin, eyes, etc. due to rupture of capillaries From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Petechia

A petechia (/pɪˈtkiə/;[1] pl.: petechiae) is a small red or purple spot (< 3 mm in diameter) that can appear on the skin, conjunctiva, retina, and mucous membranes which is caused by haemorrhage of capillaries.[2][3] The word is derived from Italian petecchia 'freckle', of obscure origin.[1] It refers to one of the three descriptive types of hematoma differentiated by size, the other two being ecchymosis (> 1 cm in diameter) and purpura (3 to 10 mm in diameter). The term is typically used in the plural (petechiae), since a single petechia is seldom noticed or significant.

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Petechia
Other namesPetechiae
Petechiae on the tongue in a person with platelets (platelet count) of 3 G/L (normal: 150–450 G/L) due to ITP
Pronunciation
  • pɪˈtiːkɪə
SpecialtyRheumatology 
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Causes

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Perspective

Physical trauma

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Petechia of the lower leg in a person with platelets of 3 due to ITP (immune thrombocytopenia).

The most common cause of petechiae is through physical trauma such as a hard bout of coughing, holding breath, vomiting, or crying, which can result in facial petechiae, especially around the eyes. Excessive scratching and friction, especially on thin and poorly circulated parts of the body may also cause petechiae. Such instances are generally considered harmless and usually disappear within a few days, but depending on severity and frequency may be indicative of an underlying medical condition.

  • Constriction, asphyxiation – petechiae, especially in the eyes, may also occur when excessive pressure is applied to tissue (e.g., when a tourniquet is applied to an extremity or with excessive coughing or vomiting).
  • Sunburn, childbirth, weightlifting[4]
  • Gua Sha, a Chinese treatment that scrapes the skin
  • High-G training
  • Hickey
  • Asphyxiation
  • Choking game
  • Oral sex[5]

Non-infectious conditions

Infectious conditions

Forensic science

Petechiae on the face and conjunctiva (eyes) are unrelated to asphyxiation or hypoxia.[10] However, the presence of petechiae may be used by police investigators in determining whether strangulation has been part of an attack. The documentation of the presence of petechiae on a victim can help police investigators prove the case.[11] Petechiae resulting from strangulation can be relatively tiny and light in color to very bright and pronounced. Petechiae may be seen on the face, in the whites of the eyes or on the inside of the eyelids.

See also

References

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