A little while ago, I saw a movie on a friend’s PC but the title forgotten. It was a high school movie majorly about two students. They were in the same class and they offered virtually all courses together. The moment they got to know each other, they were best of friends. As the owner of the universe would have it, they had common interests. As you should likely know, they fell in love and were best of friends. Everything went well at the start of their relationship. They shared the same goals, wanted to leave high school and pursue a greater degree in their courses. This was made known to each other. They had not left high school that their relationship experienced a hole in the wall. The young man’s father had a history of drinking and assault. It was not late that the lover boy started exhibiting his father’s trait. He often spanked his girlfriend for not agreeing to whatever decision he made already. In a short while, she started experiencing pains and various kinds of spots. The spots showed up majorly on her face and her arms. She being a lover of ‘skin with no dents’ thought it was mere rashes. She waited and waited and suffered too thinking it was going to leave soon. Later did she know it was PETECHIAE.
What then is Petechiae and how does it applies to the everyday person?
Petechiae known as the plural of Petechia are a small, nonraised hemorrhage in the serous membrane or skin. They are usually a small red, brown or purple spot on the skin, caused by a minor bleed from broken capillary blood vessels. Petechiae most usually appear on the legs, stomach, arms, and buttocks strangely. These spots showing in different areas can be a sign of different conditions, whether minor or serious. Petechiae has been found out to appear as a reaction to specific medications such as drugs, antibiotics, e.t.c.
Petechiae belongs to one of the three informative types of bleeding in the skin differentiated by size, the remaining being ecchymosis and purpura. Petechiae are usually less than 3 mm by resolution.
As stated above, they frequently appear on the arms, legs, stomach, and buttocks. They might also be found inside the mouth or on the eyelids.
Petechiae, even though they look like rash, are actually caused by bleeding under the skin. One way to note the difference is by gently pressing the spots. Don’t be harsh in pressing. Petechiae do not blanch when you press them but a rash quickly will turn pale.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF PETECHIAE?
Petechiae occur when blood vessels break open. You may want to know what these vessels are. They are simply containers in which blood circulates. When this happens, there is a minor bleed on the skin from a damage. Child abuse can cause petechiae in the face and eyes. Spanking also causes petechiae. Crash injuries, such as those experienced during automobile crashes, can result in petechiae of the face, neck, and chest.
Few of the conditions that may also result in the occurrence of petechiae include:
Injury causing damage to the skin, sunburn, autoimmune diseases, medical treatments for cancer, such as radiation or chemotherapy, coughing that happens especially in babies, low vitamin K, scurvy, vasculitis, bacterial and viral infections, a lower than normal blood platelet level, leukemia, viral hemorrhagic fevers etc.
Certain medications are also connected with the appearance of petechiae. The medications that may cause petechiae include:
Blood thinners, Anti-seizure drugs, Antibiotics, Antidepressants, Penicillin, Quinine, Atropine, Anticoagulants, Desipramine e.t.c.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT PETECHIAE?
In preventing petechiae, the conditions that can cause them are needed to be avoided. But it is impossible to prevent all of the underlying causes. If you’ve had one or more of this reaction to a drug in the past, then it is advisable to let your doctor know. Your doctor will most likely recommend that you totally avoid the drug in the future.
If you are the healthy type experiencing petechiae for no reason (i.e you haven't been straining, vomiting), you should see a medical practitioner or a doctor about it. It's necessary to take your kid to the doctor if she gets petechiae for no reason known to you.
To prevent infections that can cause petechiae, ensure you;
Treatment options also include
Look for secondary causes: Straining too much for too long is one cause of petechiae, either vomiting or crying. For example, a long coughing or a series of crying can lead to petechiae. You can also have petechiae from straining while exercising with weights. It's also a popular symptom that occurs after giving birth.
Check for infectious diseases: Petechiae are caused by specific infectious diseases. Anything from a fungal infection to a bacterial infection can cause petechiae, such as scarlet fever, meningococcemia, mononucleosis, strep throat.
If the petechiae are caused by viral or bacterial infection, the skin infected should clear up or heal once the infection gets better. If petechiae are caused by medication, this symptom should go away once you stop taking the drug. Check the spots regularly to see if there is a change. If the number of spots increases regularly, you might have a bleeding disorder.
Look for deficiencies: Petechiae may be the result of a vitamin C and K deficiency. Vitamin C and K are both required for blood clotting.
Before you recommend a treatment, your doctor will identify what’s causing your petechiae.
Your medical practitioner may prescribe any of these medicines with dosages to treat petechiae:
Corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation,
Antibiotics to treat a viral infection,
Medications that suppress your immune system,
Chemotherapy, e.t.c.
CONCLUSION
The common seen cause of petechiae is via physical damage such as violence, fracture and accident. Others include holding breath, crying which may result in facial petechiae most especially in the region of the eyes. This is usually harmless and disappears within a couple of days.
Petechiae can in rear cases be a sign of a blood upset called thrombocytopenia. Blood platelet levels are decreased and blood clotting is impaired in this disease. The inability to form blood clots and the petechiae resulting may also occur because of certain drugs you may be taking. These drugs range from antiplatelet medications to aspirin, anticoagulants, and steroids.
Bleeding unexpectedly under the skin may be a medical emergency. Seek prompt medical attention by calling 911. If you or someone with you has symptoms including loss of consciousness or very high fever for a moment, ensure you seek immediate medical care.
REFERENCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petechia
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/petechiae/basics/causes/sym-20050724
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320597.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/petechiae#when-to-call-a-doctor
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/petechiae
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4853
