Symptoms accompanying petechiae

Depending on the disease in which the petechiae occur, the accompanying symptoms can be very different. If there is a lack of blood platelets, this can lead to nosebleeds and in women to a prolongation and increase in menstruation. In the case of Purpura Schönlein-Hennoch, which belongs to the disease group of vasculitides, i.e. vascular diseases, symptoms can occur in the area of the gastrointestinal tract.

These include, for example, abdominal pain, vomiting and blood in the stool. Inflammation of one or more joints, for example the ankle or knee joint, can also occur. This becomes noticeable by a redness and painful swelling of the joint.

Kidney involvement is also possible and can progress to acute kidney failure. However, kidney involvement usually causes no symptoms. If the petechiae occur in the context of leukemia, there may also be a reduction in performance, increased fatigue, susceptibility to infection, increased occurrence of bruises, fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. The accompanying symptoms are therefore very different.

Therapy of petechiae

It cannot be said in general how petechiae are treated, as petechiae are a symptom and not a disease. Therefore the triggering disease must be treated. Depending on which one this is, the treatment approaches are very different. In the case of inflammatory changes in the blood vessels (vasculitis), cortisone-like medication can be used. For the different forms of leukemia, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplantation may be considered as therapy.

Where do petechiae occur?

Petechiae on the face can be caused, for example, by severe coughing or vomiting. They usually disappear again after a few days. Petechiae in the face play an important role in forensic medicine.

Particularly in the case of corpses where no other external influence can be detected, it is important to look for petechiae in the area of the eyelids and the mucous membrane of the mouth. The presence of petechiae gives strong indications that strangulation occurred shortly before death. This can be important, for example, when the question arises whether or not the death was natural.

Petechiae indicate a non natural cause of death. When petechiae occur, the oral mucosa is usually one of the places where they first appear. They are small red dots typically found in the area of the palate.

However, the localization of petechiae does not allow any conclusion to be drawn about the cause. They may be less dangerous or a threatening malignant or inflammatory disease. Anyone who notices petechiae on the oral mucosa when looking in the mirror should therefore go to the doctor promptly so that he can draw blood and, if necessary, initiate further diagnostic measures.

The abdomen is a rather unusual location for the occurrence of petechiae. More frequent is the localization in the area of the lower legs or the face. The arm is also a rather unusual location for the occurrence of petechiae.

Ankle and lower leg are the most common sites on the body for the occurrence of petechiae. The small bleedings usually occur in larger groups. The possible causes have already been discussed above.