Petechia

A petechia (/pɪˈtiːkiə/)[1] is a small red or purple spot (≤4 mm in diameter) that can appear on the skin, conjunctiva, retina, and mucous membranes which is caused by haemorrhage of capillaries.[2][3] The word is derived from Italian petecchia, 'freckle,' of obscure origin.[1] It refers to one of the three descriptive types of hematoma differentiated by size, the other two being ecchymosis (>1cm in diameter) and purpura (4-10mm in diameter). The term is always used in the plural (petechiae), since a single petechia is seldom noticed or significant.

Petechia
Other namesPetechiae
Petechia on the tongue in a person with platelets of 3 due to ITP
Pronunciation
  • pɪˈtiːkɪə
SpecialtyRheumatology 

Causes

Physical trauma

The most common cause of petechiae is through physical trauma such as a hard bout of coughing, holding breath, vomiting, or crying, which can result in facial petechiae, especially around the eyes. Such instances are harmless and usually disappear within a few days.

  • Constriction, asphyxiation – petechiae, especially in the eyes, may also occur when excessive pressure is applied to tissue (e.g., when a tourniquet is applied to an extremity or with excessive coughing or vomiting).
  • Sunburn, childbirth, weightlifting[4]
  • Gua Sha, a Chinese treatment that scrapes the skin
  • High-G training
  • Hickey
  • Asphyxiation
  • Choking game
  • Oral sex[5]

Non-infectious conditions

Infectious conditions

Forensic science

Petechiae on the face and conjunctiva (eyes) are unrelated to asphyxiation or hypoxia.[10]

Despite this, petechiae are used by police investigators in determining whether strangulation has been part of an attack. The documentation of the presence of petechiae on a victim can help police investigators prove the case.[11] Petechiae resulting from strangulation can be relatively tiny and light in color to very bright and pronounced. Petechiae may be seen on the face, in the whites of the eyes or on the inside of the eyelids.

See also

References
  1. "Petechia definition and meaning".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Reyes, Melissa A.; Eichenfield, Lawrence F. (2012-01-01), Long, Sarah S. (ed.), "73 - Purpura", Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (Fourth Edition), London: Elsevier, pp. 441–444.e1, ISBN 978-1-4377-2702-9, retrieved 2022-08-02
  3. Gooch, Jan W. (2011), Gooch, Jan W. (ed.), "Petechia", Encyclopedic Dictionary of Polymers, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 914–914, doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-6247-8_14466, ISBN 978-1-4419-6247-8, retrieved 2022-08-02
  4. "Causes".
  5. Schlesinger, SL; Borbotsina, J; O'Neill, L (September 1975). "Petechial hemorrhages of the soft palate secondary to fellatio". Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology. 40 (3): 376–78. doi:10.1016/0030-4220(75)90422-3. PMID 1080847.
  6. Kumar, Vinay (2017). Robbins Basic Pathology. Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon C.; Perkins, James A. (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA. p. 101. ISBN 978-0323353175. OCLC 960844656.
  7. Grayson MD, Charlotte (2006-09-26). "Typhus". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  8. Fact Sheet: Tonsillitis from American Academy of Otolaryngology. "Updated 1/11". Retrieved November 2011
  9. Brook I, Dohar JE (December 2006). "Management of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis in children". J Fam Pract. 55 (12): S1–11, quiz S12. PMID 17137534.
  10. Ely, Susan F.; Charles S. Hirsch (2000). "Asphyxial deaths and petechiae: a review" (PDF). Journal of Forensic Sciences. 45 (6): 1274–1277. doi:10.1520/JFS14878J. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
  11. "Investigating Domestic Violence Strangulation". BlueSheepdog.com. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
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