The sudden appearance of Petechiae – Tiny Red Spots on Skin, they are less than three millimeters in diameter, and may be the result of internal bleeding (leaked capillaries). The bleeding will cause red, purple, or brown spots to appear, sometimes in clusters, and it will often look like a rash.
Petechiae are reddish-brown spots that can appear on your skin without warning. They develop because of small blood vessels that are ruptured, causing bleeding under the skin.
Petechiae in and of themselves are not harmful. However, they frequently indicate a serious underlying medical condition.
Usually, these tiny red spots on the skin (arms, legs, chest, face, or other areas of the body) are not always itchy, flat, and they don’t lose color when touched.
Signs and Symptoms of Petechiae – Tiny Red Spots on Skin
- A collection of clotted blood under the skin (hematoma).
- Excessive bleeding from the gums.
- Easy bruising or bleeding.
- Joint hemorrhage (hemarthrosis).
- Unexplained nosebleeds.
- Heavy bleeding during menstrual periods (menorrhagia).
Causes:
The following are some of the potential causes associated with petechiae.
1. Thrombocytopenia
Petechiae that appear on the lower legs are often a symptom of thrombocytopenia.
Thrombocytopenia is a condition characterized by abnormal low platelet levels.
Platelets, or thrombocytes, are colorless blood cells that help with blood clotting.
Thrombocytopenia may be a side effect from taking certain allopathic drugs, most common are:
| Drug Type | Examples |
| Sedatives | Chloral hydrate |
| Blood thinners | Warfarin, heparin |
| Antibiotics | Nitrofurantoin, penicillin |
| Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) | Indomethacin (“Indocin”), Naproxen (“Aleve,” “Anaprox,” “Naprosyn”) |
| Antidepressants | Desipramine (“Norpramin”) |
| Anti-seizure drugs | Carbamazepine (“Carbatrol,” “Epitol,” “Tegretol”) |
| Heart rhythm drugs | Atropine (Atropen) |
Sometimes they occur as a result of an immune system disorder and/or leukemia.
2. Prolonged Straining
Petechiae that appear on the chest, neck, and face are often caused by excessive straining, such as during childbirth, or from heavy lifting /weightlifting.
They may also happen as a result of choking, consistent vomiting, violent coughing, and prolonged crying.
3. Certain Allopathic Drugs
Tiny red spots on the skin can also be caused by reactions to certain allopathic drugs for example cortisone, aspirin, atropine, carbamazepine, chloral hydrate, desipramine, indomethacin, naproxen, penicillin, nitrofurantoin, quinine, cimetidine, chlorothiazide, phenytoin, rifampin, linezolid, or anticoagulants such as warfarin or heparin etc.
4. Injuries or Sunburns
There are also certain injuries or traumas that may influence the development of petechiae in the eyes and face. For example, smothering or strangulation can lead to petechiae.
Other possible trauma causes include spanking, biting, or being crushed in an accident, sometimes one can find petechiae with severe sunburns.
5. Sepsis
Petechiae can occur from severe sepsis due to a low platelet count. Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition from an infection. It occurs when chemicals are released into the bloodstream to fight an infection, which triggers inflammation throughout the body. Sepsis may lead to septic shock and a dramatic drop in blood pressure, which may result in death.
6. Allergic Reactions
Petechiae can also be a symptom of an allergic reaction such as allergic purpura. Purpura is a hemorrhagic disease where internal bleeding under the skin can lead to petechiae and spontaneous bruising.
7. Autoimmune Diseases
Certain autoimmune diseases are linked with petechiae, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune reaction where white blood cells attack the cartilage in joints. As a result, inflammation, rashes, or petechiae may occur at the affected areas.
Petechiae may also accompany both systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus, and will often result from thrombocytopenia, which is common in lupus patients.
8. Malnutrition
A common cause of petechiae. These tiny red spots on skin may accompany nutritional deficiencies of vitamin C, vitamin K, and B vitamins like B9, folate, and B12.
9. Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial throat infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. In the case of strep throat, tiny red spots are found at the back of the roof of the mouth.
Other symptoms associated with strep throat include a dry or swollen throat, swollen lymph nodes on the neck, and throat pain from breathing, talking, or swallowing.
10. Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection that may develop in those with strep throat.
Tiny red spots accompany scarlet fever, which features a bright red rash that spreads around the body. The rash will feel like sandpaper and look like a sunburn.
Other symptoms of scarlet fever include a high fever, sore throat, flushed face, and a strawberry tongue.
11. Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease that is brought about by a lack of vitamin C in the body. Scurvy brings on such symptoms as fatigue, swollen gums, weakness, and joint pain.
Other potential causes of petechiae include infectious diseases like endocarditis, cytomegalovirus infection, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, viral hemorrhagic fevers, mononucleosis, and meningococcemia, vasculitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Von Willebrand disease, radiation and chemotherapy, and viral infections that impair blood clotting.
Could Tiny Red Spots on Skin – Petechiae Be a Sign of Leukemia?
When there are tiny red spots on the skin, leukemia may be the cause. Until leukemia is revealed on a routine blood test, it’s quite common for someone to have it and not know it.
Leukemia is a common cancer of the bone marrow and blood. People who suffer from leukemia have damaged white blood cells that interfere with healthy cells.
Other symptoms common with leukemia include easy bleeding or bruising, unexpected weight loss, excessive fatigue, flu symptoms, recurrent nosebleeds, fever or chills, bleeding gums, frequent infections, and bone pain.
Allopathic Treatment for Petechiae – Tiny Red Spots on Skin
The treatment of petechiae depends on the underlying cause. However, if petechiae are brought on by a more serious problem, a doctor might advise one of the following treatments, depending on the cause:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections.
- Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biologic therapy for cancers.
- Corticosteroids for inflammation.
- Immune system suppressors like azathioprine, methotrexate or cyclophosphamide.
Homeopathy treatment for Petechiae – Tiny Red Spots on Skin
Homeopathic way of treatment is the top priority. Homeopathic medicines can help with hemorrhage spots and petechiae in very short time and without any side effects. Here are few medicines for petechiae and their causes:
Leontodon taraxacum
Burning sensation, and burning shootings in eyes, Inflammation of eyes with lacrimation and photophobia. Purulent pimples on face, cheeks, alae nasi, and (r.) commissures of lips, Sensation of heat and redness in face, shootings and pressure in cheeks. Unhealthy, pimply, sycotic skins. Stinging on skin. Eruption over body and limbs itching severely and appears to be a mixture of lichen and urticaria. Biting in skin with sweat.
Hamamelis
No remedy has a wider sphere of usefulness in cases of hemorrhage and disordered blood-vessels like hamamelis. Varicose veins and ulcers, with stinging or pricking, bruised soreness, purpura.
Arnica Montana
Red, bluish, and yellowish spots, as if from contusions; Black and blue spots on the body, Yellow-green spots, caused either by a bruise or by disease, Bed sores; blue mortification, Miliary eruption, Petechiae, Many small boils, or blood-boils; one after another, extremely sore.
Bellis Perennis
Small boil, Painful pimple, slight pimple with burning pain in skin- of a dark fiery purple color, and very sore, burning and aching pain in it.
Crotalus Horridus
Petechiae. Vesicles; herpes; pimples; boils; carbuncles; burns; stings; pemphigus; ulcers; gangrene; felons; anthrax. Old cicatrices break out again. Peliosis rheumatica. Dropsies.
Vipera Berus
Red patches on limbs; livid; in spots; black petechial spots over whole body, which was cold to touch. Roseola-like eruption on inside of arm and downside of body, offensive Gangrene.
Sulphuricum Acidum
Red, itching spots on skin, or small, red, livid, and bluish spots, as from ecchymosis. Excoriation of skin, also with ulceration like gangrene (becomes easily chafed when walking or riding). Furunculi. Gnawing (eating pain in the) ulcers.
Kreosotum
Mealy and pustular, dry or humid tetters (on backs of hands and fingers, in palms, on ears, elbows, knuckles, and malleoli), with violent itching in almost every part of body.
Lachesis
Ecchymosis: wounds and ulcers bleed readily and copiously (small wounds bleed a good deal; ulcers bleed readily; cicatrices bleed readily; pain in old cicatrices), wounds bleeding a great while; skin very hard to heal, masses of blood pass through the pores. Varicose swellings, liary eruption, pimples, vesicles, and other small ulcers, Gangrenous ulcers. Gangrenous blisters. Superficial ulcers, foul at bottom, with a red crown. Cancerous ulceration. Carbuncles, with copper-coloured surroundings and many smaller boils around them.
Petechiae Complications
Multiple health complications can arise with a petechial diagnosis. Petechiae is related to blood-clotting disorders, so it’s not unusual for severe problems to occur if the condition is left untreated.
Those complications can include:
- Severe or uncontrolled bleeding.
- Intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding inside the skull or brain).
- Chronic poisoning.
- Spread of infection.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
To order medicine by courier, please send your details at WhatsApp– +923119884588
Dr. Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS), Abdominal Surgeries, Oncological surgeries, Gastroenterologist, Specialist Homeopathic Medicines.
Senior research officer at Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine.
Location: Al-Haytham clinic, Umer Farooq Chowk Risalpur Sadder (0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
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