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General health

Red spots (petechiae?) Should I be worried?

41 replies

rivierliedje · 02/04/2014 15:05

For a few months now I've found more and more tiny red spots. They definitely look like tiny drops of blood, not freckles. Some are a bit bigger than others and they're all over my arms, legs and I've just noticed some on my chest.

I've also been incredibly tired lately. I've never needed much sleep, always been a morning person and I've been sleeping for up to 12 hours these past few months.

My mind immediately jumped to leukemia (because I'm a worrier and my mind always jumps to doom and gloom diagnoses Grin). That's unlikely, isn't it?

Other options I had thought of are vitamin B12 deficiency (but I take vitamins so that shouldn't be the case), some random viral infection (no fever, no other symptoms) and anemia (but I'm not particularly pale and I haven't noticed being shorter of breath when running).

No need to worry yet, right? Any ideas?

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/04/2014 15:09

I would pay a visit to the GP and get their advice.

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Twunk · 02/04/2014 19:20

I am not an expert on leukaemia but my son has it and so I know a reasonable amount. It IS a symptom so I would go to the doctors as a simple blood test would rule it out. You seem well though, and if you are running I would hazard that it's unlikely.

Really you should go to your GP and see if they want to do a blood test.

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barleysugar · 02/04/2014 19:26

I get these when my platelets are low, esp in pregnancy. Def needs a full blood count doing.

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Handsup · 02/04/2014 21:12

I had petechiae on and off, started panicking but realised the spots only appeared when I scratched. The doctor wasn't too concerned as fbc was normal but I still remained tired and itchy. Are the red spots definitely petechiae? Do they remain if pressed by a glass?

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Canihaveaslice · 02/04/2014 21:41

Are you taking any anti depressants as that can be a side effect

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TheSteveMilliband · 02/04/2014 21:48

Could they be spider naevi? (sorry, on ipad and can't link but try google images). I got loads when I was pregnant Blush

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Canihaveaslice · 02/04/2014 22:07

I have had some develop on me since taking ad's I prob have about ten all over my body, they're scattered about and only noticeable when I look for them.
They look like small little drops of blood.
I think they're these but smaller. They're called cherry angio,
Petechia is the 2 nd pic
Never thought to ask the go about them, now you've got me worried!

Red spots (petechiae?) Should I be worried?
Red spots (petechiae?) Should I be worried?
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Handsup · 02/04/2014 22:28

I have a couple of cherry angio's under my breast. I think these tend to remain once you have them whereas petechiae disappears after 3 days (don't quote me). When I had petechiae, the spots were lighter in colour (almost purplish) and smaller.

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rivierliedje · 03/04/2014 10:33

Thanks everyone.
I'm not taking anything and definitely not pregnant. I've seen spider naevi and it's not that. They don't go away when pressed with a glass.
I'm pretty sure they're petechiae, except they're really tiny, only about a millimeter. I've had similar before (some slightly larger), but at the time I figured out they appeared after every choir rehearsal in which we spent a lot of time slapping thighs/clapping etc, but those alway vanished after a few days.

I will go to the doctor, I'm just having trouble finding time to go. I'm currently abroad and will have zero control over working hours when I get back, until September.

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BigPawsBrown · 03/04/2014 10:42

You can get these when you've had a virus - purpuri something. I had them following glandular fever. Could be that?

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Sidoinn · 13/02/2017 13:03

Hi there! I have found some of the petechia dots on my son's body..more on belly,some on legs. They usually fade after few days,but then comes new ones.. They are very small and not in clusters. Otherwise my kid is well..does anyone have idea what it can be? We are waiting for blood test be done now

Red spots (petechiae?) Should I be worried?
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Lavendermama · 15/03/2018 01:58

Hi, my son has the same thing. Did you ever get answers?!

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LoveToHoliday · 21/04/2018 09:37

@Sidoinn @Lavendermama

Did you find out what's causing these spots? My DD has theses spots too.

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moosemama · 22/04/2018 19:49

I know this is a zombie thread, but saw that two people have asked about the purpura and thought I might be able to help.

My 16 year old son is being investigated for recurrent petechiae (which sometimes develop into smallish purpura). He gets them mostly on his arms, hands, lower legs and feet, but occasionally on his face as well.

Haematology found his clotting (Prothrombrim?) time was slightly prolonged, but borderline, everything else tested normal so, thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be anything scary going on.

He has been referred on to gastroenterology, as he has had gastro issues since weaing, for which they haven’t found a cause. Haematology think the cause of the petechiae could be malabsorption, resulting in deficiencies in vitamins that assist clotting, ie Vitamin K.

Our family also has connective tissue disorder (some have Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos and some Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder) and apparenlty this can cause leaky veins due to over stretchy tissue. Anecdotally, via support forums and groups, etc, petechia seem to be fairly common in people with connective tissue disorders.

It’s worth a quick trip to the GP, as there is also a condition called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) that they may want to rule out.

It’s worth noting though that some people just have fragile capillaries and will get bruising resembling petechia from relatively mild pressure, eg cuffs on socks, etc. My middle son has HSD and gets great big stripes of petechia type bruising down his arm, from the cuff, every time they take his blood pressure.

Basically, if you are at all concerned, take her to the GP and get it checked out. Typically, my son had no spots when I took him, but we had photographed some and were able to show both the GP and Haematologist the pictures.

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LoveToHoliday · 22/04/2018 20:39

@moosemama How long has your ds had the petechiae? And is taking vitamin K supplement? If so, how long did you start seeing improvement?

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moosemama · 22/04/2018 22:29

He’s had them for about a year now. Saw the Haematology department in November, then Gastro around December time and is now waiting for an endoscopy.

They haven’t put him on Vitamin K supplements, as they don’t have the evidence they need that that’s the problem yet - also, if it’s malabsorption, as they suspect, he won’t absorb the supplements anyway and they will need to fix the cause of the malabsorption first.

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NellyMatrass · 18/11/2019 19:20

@Sidoinn hello, my son has the same things have u ever foun out what was causing it?

Red spots (petechiae?) Should I be worried?
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Nkmamaj · 10/04/2020 20:50

@NellyMatrass, @LoveToHoliday, @Lavendermama, @Sidoinn, have any of you figured out what was going on? My son has had periodic petechiae either a single dot or small clusters for years and I haven’t gotten any answers. CBC was normal 3 years ago and doctor wants to do another one once lockdown is over for coronavirus.

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Palpal12 · 27/04/2020 00:12

Please has anyone had an answer. I had a cluster due to trauma and now I see a small spot . I have spider veins all over too but this one looks like a tiny capillary but doesn’t vanish when I press on it ? Any ideas ?

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Mrworrier91 · 01/05/2020 05:22

Good day! I've noticed a one dot petechiae last summer in my arm, immediately I Google it for what is it, and then Google shows that petechiae is associated with leukemia(and I'm freaking out and experienced anxiety attacks after seeing it became very anxious, worried to the point that I became hypochondriac, and depressed, because I'm just a teenager, scared of having terminal illness). I have no other symptoms such as fever, general weakness etc. My blood test last year came out fine and normal, meeting the normal range for all units. Now I have again a one dot petechiae, they dont come out as clusters, rather come out only one dot. I have no other symptoms, I am feeling well. But I am still worried because of this petechiae being associated with leukemia. I am planning to visit my gp after the lockdown. Guys I'm humbly asking for your advices regarding on my situation. Thank you in advance🙂

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Palpal12 · 06/05/2020 23:16

Don’t worry had my blood work done everything turned out normal. I guess it’s just if it’s associated with other symptoms.

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Nkmamaj · 07/05/2020 12:31

I have spoken with a few doctors about the single dots of petechiae as well. I was told that my son just has fragile capillaries. It’s been happening for years with no other symptoms and previous CBC was normal. I was told that if it manifests differently, like in widespread areas and/or with other symptoms, to get tested again and to otherwise not worry about it and it’s common.

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Glitterbug76 · 16/05/2020 11:09

My daughter has been having them since 2016 they come and go now the they have come back 2 now another one I am very anxious any way

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Nancysb · 25/09/2020 12:33

Hello any updates ladies as am facing same issue with my daughter single dots petechia comes and go am so scared she is 4 years old please if anyone have updated to clam my feelings 🙏

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Hadlay · 10/10/2020 21:36

I have petechiae all over my body that doesn’t go away. What could cause this.?

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