Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can solve a mystery for me. A few years ago I used to get small pinpoint bruises that are called petechiae. I'm not sure of the spelling. Anyway I went to a hematologist, had tonnes of tests done, including bleeding time tests. Since the tests were inconclusive and they never seemed to appear for the specialist (only my family doctor saw them) she though maybe I needed to see a dermatologist (which I never did). This was about 7 years ago. I have since learned that I can make them appear by taking calcium/magnesium pills. I'm going to mention this to my family doctor the next time I see her, but I'm curious as to whether any of you have ever seen this before.

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Canuck_Lady

they are pretty common if you are taking Prednisone or any blood thinner, even aspirin. Usually get them on the abdomen. Didn't know about the magnesium/calcium connection.

I mostly get them on my arms or legs.

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Canuck_Lady

I have hundreds of tiny pinpoint red dots my GP & I thought were petechiae. Most are subcutaneous but a few are a bit larger & above the skin.

She sent me to a hematologist who took lots of blood (about 11 vials) checking for everything you could think of. He looked at my dots & said they weren't petechiae but couldn't tell what they were. He sent me to a dermatologist who did a biopsy on one of the raised ones & said it was a hemangioma. But she still couldn't say what the ones under the skin were. So she sent me to a gastroenterologist who ordered more (!) blood drawn. He said liver panel was OK. He scratched his head too & didn't know what to tell me!

Since then (that was a year ago) I've had lots more come out all over. At first I noticed them mostly on my arms, upper legs & abdomen. Now they're all over!

I also from time to time develop round purple bruise-like spots the size of a pencil eraser. No one can tell me what's causing them either. Platelet levels appear on the low side but are always within normal limits.

If anyone has an idea what they could be, I'd appreciate you sharing any info you have on this.

Thanks & hugs!

Hi, not to scare you but Petechiae is a sign of hiv....
d

I just notice recently that I also have tiny red spots all over my body. Look like bright red. Some are so small that you cant see them unless you look very closely. I dont know what they are from. Are they Petekiea? The ones on my stomach are bigger. I just noticed them on my arms and legs. My CBC is normal. I was on steroids (solumed and pednizone) for a month. I also had an illergic reaction to a medication. That has been a few months now and these spots are not faiding. Help!

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Colleen

Have you had just your platelets checked??

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Lynne

Yes, I'm pretty sure the platelet count is included in the CBC test. Mine was normal.

[This message has been edited by colleendol (edited 05-10-2003).]

Hi. I was diagnosed in November with Evan's Syndrome which is ITP (I=unknown cause, T=low platelet count, P=no cure) and AIHA (autoimmune system attacking red blood cells). It is the low platelets that mainly cause the red dots. I had them really bad on my lower legs and had some bruising that wasn't caused by anything. Normal platelets (Canada) are around 150-450 and mine were down to 16 when I was diagnosed. My hematologist started me on Prednisone 50mg immediately and within 5 days my platelets went up to more than 200. I've since been tapered of the Prednisone and haven't taken it since mid-February and my platelets are still ok.

Patty

I forgot to mention that I also had my bone marrow tested but it was normal. Painful test though.

Hi...I also have discovered lots of TINY dots...first on my chest/stomach and then now on the underside of my arms, like near the bicep.

I have been doing some reading and it seems they are common with auto-immune diseases, which I have (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis).

Anyone else hear of this connection?

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Hashimoto's~Hypo
50 mcg's of Synthroid
DX'd in May 2003

ok - after reading these posts i'm more worried about these red dots than i was before. you've all mentioned hiv, lupus, etc.

i don't know whether these dots developed during my pregnancy or after my child was born. i know i questioned a doctor about them after the birth. yrs ago i tested positive for lupus but it was later determined that it was the effects of the birth control pill i was on that gave the false positive. now, after reading this, i'm wondering if it really wasn't a false positive.

the doctor i asked about this told me they're nothing & not to worry. but 4 yrs later, i seem to be getting more of them. most were around my chest, but i have a couple on my upper arms & thighs. most of mine are really tiny, but all are raised slightly (if i run my finger over them, i definitely feel them, but since they're so little, it's not noticable to someone just seeing them).

unfortunately, i am without medical insurance, so i can't see a doctor - especially if it's something requiring further treatment - i couldn't afford it.

but you guys definitely have me even more concerned than i was already..... :-(

petechie is very common nothing really to be concerned about

go to discoveryhealth.com and type in petechiae. click on the word url and you'll get information on this. I also have these spots and was told that they're nothing to worry about.

Petechiae are very small bruises...I'm sure we all know that, but I'm appalled at the amount of false information here. First of all, whoever said that petechiae mean that you have HIV couldn't be more wrong. Petechiae are not specific to any one disease, and they occur in many different cases. They can occur is a lot of different blood disorders, but also in certain infections (like meningitis)...sometimes, lesions are mistakedly called petechiae when they are actually something else. One woman was mentioning that she got a bunch of them when she was pregnant. More likely, those were called "spider nevi" and they're present in states of high estrogen in the blood (which is true in pregnancy, and also, believe it or not, in liver disease). The thing is, those in pregnancy will go away...those in liver disease won't.

Also....another comment: ITP stands for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Idiopathic, as was mentioned, means that the cause is not known....thrombocytopenic means low platelets, but the Purpura means a large bruise...not whatever was written in a previous post.

I had these years ago on my legs (and I think arms) and was diagnosed with mononucleosis

I don't think these will ever go away. Mine popped out virtually overnight, 13 years ago, all over my abdomen and upper thighs. Discovered them when I went for a prenatal checkup. What a surprise! The doctor wasn't concerned, and I don't have health insurance, so I won't be getting tested for them at all...

Originally posted by projapoti:
Purpura means a large bruise...not whatever was written in a previous post.

i have itp so i thought i was well versed in what purpura means... lol...i was wrong. when you wrote that i looked it up and i was suprised....my dr. told me it meant 'of unknown origin/cause' i must have confused something he told me or he must have mispoke... man i'm 27 and have thought this ever since i could remember--funny

Confusion over whether it IS Petechiae can be sorted by pressing a glass tumbler over them, if they fade they aren't Petechiae.

It could also be maybe something like campbell De Morgan spots. They are absulutely bright red, are often slightly raised and are on the surface, they are haemangiomas and harmless, once they are there, they are there and won't disapear. being filled with overgrown blood vessels they will bleed if damaged. They start quite small and just under the skin, but they do slowly grow and are then more of a small bulge on the skin. Pregnancy is a typical time for them to increase.

Petechiae are softer red spots that are under the skin and that quickly loose the red colour to become more purple and they fade over a few days and are replaced with fresh ones.

i have both these type of spots. I do have Hashimoto's disease of the thyroid as well as other autoimmune problems.
I have often got Petechiae on my legs and sometimes my arms, they worried me at first because I had ITP when I was a kid but the doc isn't worried and iv'e had them now and then for years. They seem to happen when I have had dairy foods when I also tend to get unexplained bruises. I think it is just because my body finds dairy food a bit toxic!

ITP is now thought to be autoimmune though that wasn't know when I had it. Prednislone was I think rather experimental when i had ITP.

They can also be more common in hot weather and in aging people, I am 55, get my pension in 5 years but am not so very old! LOL!!


[This message has been edited by Corinna_H (edited 10-05-2003).]

My two yr old daughter has also had these spots. Her PCM had seen them once and was really concerned but thought she just might have brushed up against something while in the waiting room. He told me that if she ever had them again to bring her back immediately. That it could be a sign of a blood disorder. My baby did start to have them again. But when I took her in her PCM was gone on TDY so she saw a different doc. This doc wasnt overly concerned but she did order blood tests. They came back normal. So what exactly does this all mean? I havent a clue. But when one doc seems more concerned over them then another doc I start to wonder if either one of them know what the heck they are doing.

Hi, not to scare you but Petechiae is a sign of hiv....
d

:angel: Hi,

I have a blood disease called Idopathic Thrombocytopenia Pupura which causes low platelet count and brusing and petechiae. My doctor explained it to me this way: I have too many antibodies in my system and they have a job to do. When there are too many and there is no job for them to do (like fight off infection) they will turn on you and start eating your platelets. Have you been taking ASPRIN? Not Tylenol or ibuprofin, but ASPRIN? That will lower your platelets and cause the petechiae. I had so tests done to find out what I have. They did the test where they cut your arm and time your bleeding after like 20 minutes. I was still bleeding (my blood was not clottin). I had bone marrow taken out of my back to rule out leukemia, and many blood test. I had to finally see a hematologist to get a diagnosis. So, now whenever I am going to have surgery or a procedure that will cause bleeding, I have to have my platelet count checked first so I don't bleed to death. I think this disease goes in remission, then comes and goes as it pleases. My Uncle died from it - he hemoriaged to death. Hope this helps.
Gingerly

Have your doctor and/or pharmacist check ALL side effects of ALL of the meds you are currently taking. Many cholesteral lowering drugs list this as rare side effect. Even Nexium lists this as a side effect.Pepcid does, too.
Look at all of your vitamins and supplement side effects as well.
If you are taking several meds you are creating a perfect storm for this condition. It is worth a look. People are dieting and eliminating milk from their diets. Might help to add skim milk back in. Sugar free, lowfat ice cream too.
Good luck and be healthy.:)

I have ITP also. My son got petechia one day after he put an empty water bottle around his mouth and made a suction. I freaked out thinking maybe he had low platelets. I took him to the dr and they tested him - he was fine.

I think kids are more prone to it. I'd be more concerned if you start to see unexplained brusing or bruises that are reddish or bright purple - those kinds of bruises on me mean my platelets are low or are falling.

Jill