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Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??

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15 years 5 months ago #3105 by lamonica
Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like?? was created by lamonica
I'm sure this is a laughable question to many of you ITP parents, but after almost 10 months of dx, I think we may be just getting our first "dots". The ped implied they were flush with the skin, not raised. Camden's are small, slightly raised, and don't turn white (blanch) when pressed-they are on his face?? I did look at the Wickipedia pictures, but they look very purple compared to Camden's small red ones. His last count was 37k. Even in the teen range he hasn't had "dots". Help :unsure:

LaMonica
mom to Camden (9yrs)dx 6/09
LaMonica
Mom to Camden (13yrs) diagnosed 6/09
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15 years 5 months ago #3111 by julia
Replied by julia on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
I thought they looked the same as the menengitis rash, i could be wrong, red/purple dots that dont disapear when you put a tumbler on them.
Julia
  • Angel85
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  • I am 27 years old from Australia and I have T.A.R Syndrome. My email address is not showing on my profile for some reason so it is blossom_242@hotmail.com for anyone who wants to send me an email.
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15 years 5 months ago #3129 by Angel85
Replied by Angel85 on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
Mine sometimes look like very small red pin pricks and then other times i get bigger ones that look almost purple in colour and looks almost like a bruise instead of petechiae. I got a whole heap last week that looked like a rash, that was after i washed myself and scrubbed a bit too hard
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15 years 5 months ago #3130 by Bunnie
Replied by Bunnie on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
It's not always easy to tell. If they are raised bumps, then you may want to look at follicultis pictures on the web. With the dry climate I live in, just shaving my legs will bring out the folicule bumps, unless I'm moisturizing like crazy and I'll have to use a mild cortizone cream to clear them up.

I can get petechiae from any impact type of activity even when my counts are higher. One of my common observations is that I have more petechiae after walking a lot on hard surfaces like cement. When in doubt, its worth getting the CBC if there are lots. My most embarrassing one was when I didn't pre-wash the sizing off a set of new sheets, just put them on the bed. The next morning I had an allergic reaction that was rashlike and itched. The itching should have been the clue, but I did the CBC for my own piece of mind.
"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened.\" — Mark Twain\\\\\\"Worry is a misuse of the imagination.\" — Dan Zadra
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15 years 5 months ago #3132 by lamonica
Replied by lamonica on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
Well, maybe he just has a rash-all of the pictures I looked up for meningitis rash and foliculitis look so obvious compared to his little group of 15 dots :)
I do appreciate the quick responses-so comforting to know that others are willing to help sort out this frustrating and unpredictable illness!
LaMonica
mom to Camden (9yrs) dx 6/09
LaMonica
Mom to Camden (13yrs) diagnosed 6/09
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15 years 5 months ago #3133 by ianroom
Replied by ianroom on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like
wen i got it, it started as a little patch of red dots on my shoulder and by the end of the day i was in the er becausei was absolutely covered in them and biiigggg purple bruises. thats how i was diagnosed with itp.
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15 years 5 months ago #3137 by juliannesmom
Replied by juliannesmom on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
Sometimes petechiae are red, and sometimes purple. They can look like oddly colored freckles, or mass together and look like a bruise, a rug burn, or a hickey (sp?). A hickey is just a big mass of petechiae. The appearance seems different in my kid depending on where they are. The ones early in ITP on her back were in the shape of her shirt tag or bra hooks. She had them on her bottom in the shape of the seams on the pockets of her jeans. On her ankles, they were finer sprinkles of red dots. Some patients tend to get them in the lower parts of the legs, and others get them where something presses or rubs. Anyone can get them, but they're more likely in ITP and in lower platelet counts. I've had them around my eyes once from vomiting as a teenager. (And I don't have ITP.) Hope that helps.
Norma
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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15 years 5 months ago #3145 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
Petechiae are always flat, and they look like small red or purple pin pricks. They can be seperate or cluster together, usually on hands, feet, legs, etc.

Purpura are large purple splotches. I've had those on my chest. They reminded me of the splotches from scarletina (my daughter had that). They do not look like bruises.
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15 years 5 months ago #3858 by sadiemay
Replied by sadiemay on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
My son has pretty low platelet levels with just a few "dots". He was diagnosed after an ER doctor saw just two on his forehead (platelet count was 12,000). I was amazed at some of the photos online, but I think it's a little misleading. I guess you end up just knowing your child and his/her particular symptoms. It's hard when they change though, isn't it. Good luck!
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15 years 5 months ago #3861 by lucidawn
Replied by lucidawn on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
Timothy was bleeding internally (intestines) and didn't have a single bruise. He hardly ever does anymore, and when he does its very little even if he's at 1k.
Donna Ingold
Mom to Kelly 22, Karen 21, Josiah 19 (Congenital Heart Defect, MS), Timothy 17 (Chronic Refractory ITP-dx 5/03, Asthma), Isaac 15(blind left eye).

Allergic and Refractive to WinRho
Shortlived small response to IVIg(a few days of 30k or less).
0-1k since September 2010
No response to...
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15 years 5 months ago #3871 by michel
Replied by michel on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
My petechia, were flat about the size of the point of a needle, (imagine being poked by a needle) for me they appeared all on legs between the middle of my calves and ankles. In about a 1-inch by 1-inch patch there were 15-20 little red dots. I probably had a couple thousand dots when I first noticed them.

I associate mine with having low counts and standing for an hour at a work meeting.

michel
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15 years 5 months ago #3877 by danelle1028
Replied by danelle1028 on topic Re:Petechiae/Purpura-what do they really look like??
I rarely got petechiae but when I did it was on the inner part of my ankle....
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