A (puh-TEE-kee-uh, plural '''petechiae''' puh-TEE-kee-eye) is a small red or purple spot on the body, caused by a minor
Hemorrhage (broken
Capillary Blood Vessel s). Forceful
Cough ing or
Vomiting can cause facial petechiae, especially around the eyes. Newborns often have facial petechiae from the tight squeeze through the
Cervix . Thus petechiae are fairly common and in general of no concern.
Heavy lifting may lead to petechiae that resemble thin red lines on the shoulders. Petechiae are also often found in cases of manual or ligature strangulation.
Petechiae are a sign of
Thrombocytopenia (low
Platelet counts), other disorders of
Coagulation . If they appear during illness, especially illness with
Fever , they may be a sign of
Septicemia (blood-borne
Bacteria l infection), especially of ''
Meningococcus '' (a causative agent of
Meningitis ). The presence of petechiae in a sick child is therefore an important warning sign.
