Petechiae, rash-like spots on the skin & bull; hello healthy

Petechiae (petekie) is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of tiny red or purple spots on the skin. Petechiae can be a sign of both minor and serious illnesses. In addition, these spots can also appear as an allergic reaction to drugs.

Why did petechiae (petekie) appear?

Broadly speaking, petechiae appear when small blood vessels (capillaries) under the skin bleed. Thus, the blood eventually leaks into the skin and causes red or purplish spots.

There are a number of things that make this happen, here are the causes.

1. Push for a long time

Mild petechiae can appear when someone pushes for too long. Some activities such as lifting weights, giving birth, crying, or coughing make the body tense, which can lead to tearing of the blood vessels under the skin.

2. Use of certain drugs

Sometimes, petechiae appear as a side effect of medicines. Some of the drugs that can cause this condition are antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, blood thinners, NSAIDs, and sedatives.

3. Infectious disease

There are several diseases from the fungal, viral, and bacterial indices that can cause symptoms of the appearance of petechiae spots. The diseases are as follows.

• Dengue fever: dengue fever can cause thrombocytopenia, which can cause petechie.
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV): Can infect almost anyone, this virus can cause symptoms of fatigue, fever, sore throat, and muscle aches in people with weak immune systems.
• Endocarditis: This disease is an infection of the inner lining of the heart muscles and valves. Apart from causing spots, this disease can cause other symptoms such as fever, chills, joint pain, and shortness of breath.
• Sore throat: Often they are harmless, but they can lead to other conditions such as petechiae, swollen tonsils, and fever. Usually, the type of bacteria that causes a sore throat is group A Streptococcus.
• Meningococcemia: diseases caused by bacteria Neisseria meningiditis which can also be a cause of meningitis. This disease is more common in infants, children and young adults.

4. Other diseases

This condition can also occur as a symptom of a non-infectious disease as follows.

• Leukemia:This disease is a cancer that grows in the white blood cells. In people who have leukemia, white blood cells cannot function normally. One of the symptoms is the appearance of small red spots on the skin.
• Thrombocytopenia: This condition makes the body have a low number of platelets (blood cells that help blood clot). Apart from petechiae, thrombocytopenia also causes bruising, bleeding from the gums or nose, blood in the urine, fatigue, and yellow skin and eyes.
• Vasculitis: inflammatory disease of the walls of blood vessels. Can make blood vessels thickened, narrowed, and even injured. Sometimes vasculitis occurs due to infection, but it can also be due to medication, disease, or other conditions.

What are the symptoms of petechiae that can appear?

As already mentioned, the main characteristic of this condition is the appearance of red or purplish spots. Usually, symptoms appear on the arms, legs, stomach, and buttocks.

These spots do not feel itchy. But be careful, the reason is that if the spots continue to grow and fuse, it can indicate that you have a bleeding disorder.

Petechiae may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• a clot of blood appeared under the skin,
• easy bleeding or bruising,
• bleeding gums,
• hemarthrosis,
• excessive bleeding at normal menstruation, and
• nosebleed.

Petechiae spots may look like a skin rash. The difference is, the spots that result from this condition will not turn white or pale when pressed. Meanwhile, the red rash will usually turn pale when you press it.

When to see a doctor

Petechiae can be a sign of certain diseases and need to be treated. If you or your child begins to experience this condition, it's better to immediately consult a doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Especially if the symptoms are accompanied by loss of consciousness, high fever, confusion, heavy bleeding, or headache. It is possible that these symptoms are a sign of a more serious condition.

So, how do you deal with petechiae?

Of course, the doctor will treat the disease according to the conditions or other factors that cause its appearance. Therefore, you must do an examination to see if any conditions are the beginning of the symptoms you are experiencing.

The doctor may prescribe the following drugs.

• Antibiotics to fight viruses or bacteria, if the cause is infection.
• Corticosteroid medicines to reduce inflammation of the skin.
• Medicines that work to suppress the immune system, for example azathioprine, methotrexate, or cyclophosphamide.
• Chemotherapy, biological therapy, or radiation, if the cause is cancer.

You can also take pain relievers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to help relieve symptoms, then rest and drink enough water.

During treatment, pay attention to the following points.

• Follow all the instructions given by the doctor, especially regarding the consumption of drugs. Do not stop medication without consulting your doctor.
• Always be aware of the changes seen on the skin.
• Contact your doctor immediately if you have questions or concerns about your symptoms.

If you find that petechiae appears as a side effect of a drug you are taking, your doctor may change or reduce the dose of the drug you are taking.