What causes petechial hemorrhage?

Causes of petechiae. Petechiae are formed when tiny blood vessels called capillaries break open. When these blood vessels break, blood leaks into your skin. Infections and reactions to medications are two common causes of petechiae.

What does petechiae look like?

Petechiae are flat and look like pinpoint-sized red, brown, or purple dots. Clumps of them on your skin look like a rash. But unlike many rashes, when you press on the spots they don’t turn white. And if the spots are larger and red or purple, you may have another type of bleeding problem called purpura.

Does petechiae go away when pressed?

The bleeding causes the petechiae to appear red, brown or purple. Petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-ee) commonly appear in clusters and may look like a rash. Usually flat to the touch, petechiae don’t lose color when you press on them.

What infections cause petechiae?

Petechiae may be caused by any of a number of fungal, viral and bacterial infections, including:

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
• Endocarditis.
• Meningococcemia.
• Mononucleosis.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• Scarlet fever.
• Sepsis.
• Strep throat.

How long do petechiae last?

Petechiae typically resolve in 2 to 3 days but can evolve into ecchymoses, palpable purpura, vesicles, pustules, or necrotic ulcers, depending on the cause and clinical course.

Does petechiae mean leukemia?

One symptom that people with leukemia might notice is tiny red spots on their skin. These pinpoints of blood are called petechiae. On light skin, these may appear as red dots. On darker skin they may be darker than the surrounding skin and less noticeable.

Can petechiae be harmless?

In most cases, petechiae are caused by a benign and harmless condition, but in some cases they may be a sign of an underlying disorder that requires urgent attention. Although petechiae can occur at any age, they are more commonly seen in older adults and children.