Petechiae are pinpoint, round spots that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding. The bleeding causes the petechiae to appear red, brown or purple. Petechiae (puh-TEE-kee-ee) commonly appear in clusters and may look like a rash. Usually flat to the touch, petechiae don’t lose color when you press on them. Sometimes they appear on the inner surfaces of the mouth or the eyelids.
Petechiae are common and may indicate a number of conditions, ranging from minor to very serious.
June 25, 2021
Bennett JE, et al. The acutely ill patient with fever and rash. In: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Hoffman R, et al. Clinical approach to the patient with bleeding or bruising. In: Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2013. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 10, 2015.
AskMayoExpert. Streptococcal pharyngitis (strep) (adult and pediatric). Rochester, Minn. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2014.
Ely JW, et al. The generalized rash: Part 1. Differential diagnosis. American Family Physician. 2010;81:735. www.aafp.org/afp. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Nachman RL, et al. Platelets, petechiae, and preservation of the vascular wall. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;395:1261.
Fett N. Evaluation of adults with cutaneous lesions of vasculitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Raffini L. Evaluation of purpura in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Boos SC, et al. Physical abuse in children: Epidemiology and clinical manifestations. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Drews RE. Approach to the adult patient with a bleeding diathesis. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Paulman PM, et al. Bleeding and bruising. In: Signs and Symptoms in Family Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier, 2012. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 11, 2015.
Pazirandeh S, et al. Overview of vitamin K. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 10, 2015.
Hjelle B. Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 10, 2015.
George JN. Drug-induced thrombocytopenia. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 11, 2015.
Atropen. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.Label_ApprovalHistory#labelinfo. Accessed March 11, 2015.
Norpramin. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.Label_ApprovalHistory#labelinfo. Accessed March 11, 2015.
Furadantin. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/index.cfm?fuseaction=Search.Label_ApprovalHistory. Accessed March 11, 2015.
Litin SC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 12, 2015.
