A petechial rash may be alarming, and in fact it can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying condition, but it should not be cause for panic. The reality is, more often than not petechiae actually have very simple and non-serious causes. Still, since these tiny marks are a sign of bleeding under the skin, it is always a good idea to determine exactly what caused them to appear in the first place and take any necessary steps for treatment.
So what exactly is a petechia? Simply put it is a tiny red spot that appears on the skin caused by minor bleeding in the capillaries. The capillaries, as you know, are part of the circulatory system. They are the tiny blood vessels that link the arteries to the smallest part of your veins. When these fine blood vessels bleed, that blood is leaked into the skin, causing very small red spots to appear. There are a number of possible petechiae causes and since these spots are usually no more than 1-2 mm in length they may not be noticeable until several of them have formed.
Once a number of petechiae are present, this will form a larger red patch commonly known as a petechial rash because it can mimic the appearance of a standard allergic rash such as hives. But as was previously noted, petechia are not caused by skin irritation but rather by bleeding. While such a small amount of blood may not seem to signal anything significant, these marks can actually be a sign of either a more significant physical trauma, or the presence of an infectious or non-infectious condition.
What are the petechiae causes?
The most common of petechiae causes is physical trauma. This doesn’t have to be anything violent, although petechia in the eyes or on the face are often a sigh of asphyxiation or choking. More often than not, petechiae are caused by a bout of coughing, vomiting, crying or even holding your breath. Since the capillaries are so very small, it doesn’t take an awful lot of strain in order to damage one and cause bleeding. Some women will experience petechiae as a result of childbirth, for example.
Other causes of petechial rash can include non-infectious conditions such as Vitamin C or K deficiency, Aplastic anemia, Leukemia, Celiac disease, Lupus or Kawasaki Disease. If you notice a sudden appearance of petechiae anywhere on your body and you have not experienced any kind of straining, constriction or trauma, then you should probably get checked out by your doctor to determine if one of these conditions may be the cause. Since some of these can be quite serious, the sooner you undergo treatment, the better off you’ll be.
There are also some infectious conditions that can be petechiae causes. These include Scarlet Fever, Endocarditis, some forms of Meningitis, Congential syphllis, and even Ebola. While most of these are quite rare, it is still a good idea to rule them out just to be sure.
Sometimes petechiae can be caused by certain medications including anticoagulants like Warfarin and Heparin, Atropine, Naproxen and Penicillin. Again, it is very important that you identify the exact cause of any sudden appearance of petechiae so that the underlying cause can be treated if necessary.
What are the treatment options for petechial rash??
If a bacterial or viral infection is the cause, there are specific medications that your doctor can prescribe for treatment including antibiotics and corticosteroids. Otherwise, you may be able to relieve your symptoms with a course of rest and over the counter pain killers such as Advil or Tylenol. Also be sure to get plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
While a petechial rash is not in and of itself dangerous, it does often serve as a warning flag of more serious problems. Petechiae in children, for instance, can sometimes be an indicator of child abuse and petechiae in the eyes and face of both children and adults are often a sign of strangulation or asphyxiation.
Though they are small and insignificant looking, petechiae are not something to be taken lightly. They can cast a bright light on an otherwise unnoticed condition so if you see them, don’t take them for granted, take that sudden warning very seriously.