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Original poster

What causes pin prick like bruising?

34 replies

Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:21

My son has some really odd marks on his shoulder - a bit like bruising or minor burst blood vessels in a patch. It doesn't hurt him and he can't remember bashing his shoulder at all but he is 11 and might not remember every knock.

I really have never seen anything like it and I am wondering if anyone else recognises this condition.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 21/06/2009 21:23

i sometimes get it if i've had something putting pressure on and then rubbing a bit.

so, now and then if i've been using a sling for the baby, or if the strap of a bag has rubbed or something like that

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 21/06/2009 21:26

IIRC, it's called petchae(sp?), I'd pop him to the GP and get it checked, it could indicate a clotting problem. It could also be because he's been wearing a heavy school bag on that shoulder aswell though.

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:26

OK, so nothing to worry about in itself?

I am a bit paranoid about funny bruising as my mother's brother died of leukaemia when he was 18 and I know the first he knew of his illness was a funny bruise on his leg.

I know, I know, I have added 2 and 2 and made 4000!

OP posts:
Yurtgirl · 21/06/2009 21:27

It sounds similar to the bruise spots I had years ago - but I had them all over my legs.
Mine were caused by hopelessly low platelets

I dont know if that helps though

MatNanPlus · 21/06/2009 21:29

My friends DS (7) had bruising that sounds very similar and he was diagnosed with Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

He is fine, it causes him no problems and he recieves no treatment but rest.

Yurtgirl · 21/06/2009 21:32

Thats it - low platelets = poor blood clotting

I was in a terrible state though huge black blisters in my mouth, bruise spots all over my legs......
It doesnt sound like your ds in such a state!

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:32

Oh fuck, have googled images of petechia and it looks similar to the less dramatic pictures shown. It seems it is linked to leukemia and other horrid things. Oh god.

OP posts:
Yurtgirl · 21/06/2009 21:33

Oooooh its all coming back now! I had something something purpura - different something pupura though
I had it in conjunction with gladular fever

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:35

This is similar to ds's marks

Oh god, I am panicking now.

OP posts:
Yurtgirl · 21/06/2009 21:35

Honestly dumble dont panic just yet - I have looked at those images too
My rash looked very like that - take him to gp tommorrow

[reassuring]

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:38

He is perfectly well in himself I should say.

He does carry a large rucksack to school and back but it is only a 5 minute walk and he is still in primary school so he is not lugging the bag from lesson to lesson all day. I can't believe the rucksack is the cause.

I am trying not to panic, but panic is still there.

OP posts:
KirstyJC · 21/06/2009 21:38

My suggested course of action:

  1. Don't panic - lots of things look like that!

  2. Stop googling things or else you'll end up thinking he has everything up to and including cervical cancer!!

  3. Make a Dr appointment tomorrow am so you don't spend too long worrying, and then s/he will put your mind at rest. You will only keep worrying so make it asap - duty doctor or whatever your surgery does.

  4. Don't panic. Honestly - I'm sure it will be fine.

Parmageddon · 21/06/2009 21:39

I had these (petichiae?) on my ankle for ages after I had sprained it. They did go away eventually, this was many years ago, no ill effects as yet. Perhaps he has had a minor injury which he didn't really register?

I would visit GP if you are worried, there is no harm in getting it checked.

Doodle2u · 21/06/2009 21:39

Bloody hell DDG, he's probably banged himself, or it's a sweat rash, or like someone else said, a rash from a heavy school bag, or a mate running up behind him and grabbing his shoulders or....

If he's otherwise well, check it again in the morning and then again after school. If you're still unhappy, make him an appointment.

If he is unwell in any other way, then ring NHS Direct!

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 21/06/2009 21:39

I have little red spots on my arms, I've had them checked and they are nothing so don't panic!!!
I also get little blood spots from my uni bag or if I have carried heavy shopping bags on my arms, they do fade though.

PacificDogwood · 21/06/2009 21:40
Doodle2u · 21/06/2009 21:40

Has he been playing outside - maybe around long grass or trees?

MrKrabs · 21/06/2009 21:41

I was ona course that said it was a sign of abusive whacking!

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:41

Yes I will have to make an appointment with the GP tomorrow now. I won't rest until I know what caused it now I know it could be serious.

If it has gone by tomorrow (clutching at straws) do you suppose that would mean it was nothing significant?

OP posts:
FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 21/06/2009 21:44

If he's playing outside, eating, full of beans then it's really unlikely that it's anything serious. Leukemia has loads of other symptoms and he'd be really unwell and not able to play outside as he'd be too ill. It's worthwhile getting it checked by your GP though, just to stop you worrying!

bigstripeytiger · 21/06/2009 21:46

I always get marks like that on my shoulders if I carry a heavy bag.

The other reason that a lot of my classmates had a rash like that at secondary school was sucking on the skin to cause that sort of mark. Dont ask.

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:47

Well I can categorically tell you he has not been abusively wacked! If he had, he would have told me, 20 times over.

He was playing volleyball for his school in a districts sports day yesterday but he does not remember getting bashed on the shoulder. The balls were soft anyway.

So PD (you sound very knowledgeable) would you say if the bruising is just in one place, it is unlikely to indicate something serious and is more likely to indicate a whack?

Even the thought of him having a blood test is a scary thought as he is not at all good with needles (he is asthmatic and usually has a flu jab each year, but I just couldn't put him through it last year such is the screaming panic he gets into when he has to have an injection.

OP posts:
bigstripeytiger · 21/06/2009 21:48

It probably wont be gone by tomorrow regardless of the cause, so if it is still there that is to be expected, and not in itself a bad sign.

Original poster
Dumbledoresgirl · 21/06/2009 21:49

My mother's brother died of leukaemia when he was 18. The first sign he had of his illness was a "funny" bruise on his leg when he was 15. So I am not convinced that a lack of other symptoms means my son will be ok.

I know I must seem to be over-reacting here, but I have lived with the knowledge of what happened to my uncle all my life.

OP posts:
Yurtgirl · 21/06/2009 21:54

I can understand why you are panicing - but try not to
Distract yourself with something
Take a good book to bed
Take ds to gp tomorrow and make sure he gets a referral if gp is at all unsure what he is looking at

Try not to worry

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