The Italian term petecchia , in turn derived from the Greek pittákia , came to our language as petechia . This is the name given to the small spot that appears on the skin when blood spills internally.
Petechia occurs when a capillary is damaged and a small amount of blood leaks out of the vessel. At first, the stain tends to be reddish, blackish or violet and then, with the chemical alterations of the blood that occur over time, it becomes brownish, yellowish or greenish.
Petechiae, in short, involve bleeding inside the skin that manifests as small, usually red dots . If blood accumulates in larger flat areas, the phenomenon is known as purpura , while blood collected in a region with large bruises causes so-called ecchymosis .
Among the most common causes that lead to petechia occurring, we can highlight the ingestion of certain medications ( penicillin , quinine...) and having carried out prolonged exertion, as well as certain medical disorders.
Specifically, among the diseases that can lead to the appearance of petechia we find scarlet fever, endocarditis, vasculitis, streptococcal tonsillitis or mononucleosis. This without overlooking others such as leukemia, lack of vitamin K or scurvy.
Bacterial or viral infections are what cause many children to have petechiae on their skin. Specifically, they usually appear on the arms, buttocks, abdomen and even legs and do not cause any type of itching.
As a general rule, these do not entail any type of danger. However, it is recommended that parents keep an eye on the aforementioned and observe them to see if they change. Specifically, it is determined that they take their children to the doctor when they also have a fever, when the children appear excessively irritable, when the condition itself has worsened or when the children have sleepiness that is not usual for them.
Likewise, it is advisable to go to the doctor when children show difficulty breathing, when the number of spots on the skin has increased considerably or when children present long lines under their nails.
It is important not to confuse petechiae with erythema , which is redness of the skin without bleeding. In the case of petechiae, if the area is pressed, the skin does not become lighter or whitish, something that does occur with erythema.
Bleeding into the skin, whether as petechia or otherwise, usually occurs due to trauma or injury . However, there are other causes that can cause it, such as a disease that impairs coagulation , an allergic reaction , sepsis , or an autoimmune disorder .
If petechia breaks out for no apparent reason and does not disappear as the days go by, it is important to see a doctor . The professional is in a position to study the condition and take the necessary measures to care for or restore health .