Purpura

Rocky mountain spotted fever on the foot

Purpura

Definition:

Purplish discolorations in the skin produced by small bleeding vessels near the surface of the skin. Purpura may also occur in the mucous membranes (such as the lining of the mouth) and in the internal organs.

Alternative Names:

Blood spots; Skin hemorrhages

Considerations:

Purpura by itself is only a sign of other underlying causes of bleeding.

When purpura spots are very small, they are called petechiae. Large purpura are called ecchymoses.

Purpura may occur with either normal platelet counts (nonthrombocytopenic purpuras) or decreased platelet counts (thrombocytopenic purpuras). Platelets help maintain the integrity of the capillary lining and are important in the clotting process.

Common Causes:

Conditions that cause purpura are grouped into two categories: nonthrombocytopenic and thrombocytopenic. Some common purpuras include:

NONTHROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURAS

pressure changes associated with vaginal delivery of an infant
vasculitis such as Henoch-Schonlein purpura (anaphylactoid purpura)
congenital cytomegalovirus
congenital rubella syndrome (changes in the baby that can occur when a pregnant woman has rubella)
drug-induced platelet dysfunction (some drugs can affect the action of platelets)
senile purpura (the blood vessels become more fragile as a person ages)

THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURAS

idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
immune neonatal thrombocytopenia (a disorder that can occur in infants whose mothers have ITP)
platelet consumption in hemangioma
drug-induced thrombocytopenia (some drugs can prevent the formation of platelets)
meningococcemia (an infection caused by meningococcus bacteria)

Call your health care provider if:

Any new purpura should be brought to your physician's attention.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting purpura may include:

time pattern
- Is this the first time you have had spots such as these?
- When did they develop?
type
- Petechiae (small purplish or reddish dots)?
- Ecchymoses (look like bruises)?
other
- What medications are being taken?
- What other medical problems have you had?
- Does anyone in your family have similar spots?
- What other symptoms are also present?

Review Date: 11/11/2001
Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.