I have a four-year old son who has had bouts of petechiae since he was 2. We had a lot of blood testing done and the hematologist discovered that he has a Factor 12 deficiency. We were told not to worry this disorder is really benign but the deficiency did not explain the petechiae. Since the testing, we have had many other occasions where he has had petechiae on his face or chest (mostly from the chest up). They were always caused by injury or heavy crying and the drs. said not to worry. This December he had a swollen lymph node on his neck that seems to be going up and down. It is still enlarged but not as big as before. The drs. said it looks normal and that he could have it for a while. About a month ago, I noticed a petechial rash on the back of his thigh. I figured he just bumped himself but have been watching it. It has not faded in a month and seems to be slowly spreading. There are two spots - one on the back thigh and the other on the back of his calf. They look like light bruises with some small pinpoint spots. I have not taken him to the dr. yet because they keep telling me not to worry about these breakouts. What do you think? Am I overreacting? My mother has NHL and I don't trust my instincts because I am obviously paranoid.

My only advice to you is to take him back to the doctors for a complete check up with blood work. If you feel that you are being "paranoid", so what!!! He is your son and you have every right as a parent to be protective AND THOROUGH.

I thought that doctors knew more than me and kept my mouth shut while they gave my daughter an extra dose of chemotherapy only to say to me the next week "By the way, we have to tell you this......" I will forever hold myself accountable for this. I kept my mouth shut.

I know live by this motto: "It's better to open your mouth and be wrong, than keep it shut and be right."

I hope your wrong.

Tracy