What do petechiae look like

The more aggressive ones that require stem cell therapy or chemotherapy almost always have skin findings. That can set the stage for bruising. In addition to petechiae, this can appear as purpura larger red or purple areas , or ecchymoses bruises , Forrestel says.

According to Forrestel, these spots usually take weeks to go away, but gentle skin care and avoiding trauma when possible can also help prevent the condition. During the progression of leukemia, white blood cells neoplastic leukocytes found in bone marrow may begin to filter into the layers of the skin, resulting in lesions.

Because leukemia inhibits the development of mature white blood cells, which fight infection, the body is much more susceptible to skin infections. Once the infection has been diagnosed, healthcare providers prescribe the appropriate antibacterial or antifungal therapy, which may include cream or oral medication, according to Forrestel. One common type of infection patients may develop is folliculitis, an inflammation of the hair follicles.

A sunburn can also cause petechiae. Leukemia Leukemia is a cancer of your bone marrow. Other symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, swollen glands, bleeding, bruising, nosebleeds, and night sweats.

Meningococcemia This is a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, and nausea. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, swollen tonsils, and headache. Other symptoms include high fever, chills, severe headache, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms include a rash, red lines on the skin, flushing of the face, red tongue, fever, and sore throat.

Scurvy Scurvy is caused by too little vitamin C in your diet. Other symptoms include fatigue, swollen gums, joint pain, shortness of breath, and bruising. Sepsis This is a life-threatening blood infection. Other symptoms include a high fever, fast heart rate, and trouble breathing. Straining Activities that cause you to strain can tear blood vessels in your face, neck, and chest. These activities include crying, coughing, vomiting, lifting weights, or giving birth.

Strep throat Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes a sore throat. Other symptoms include swollen tonsils, swollen glands, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and body aches. Thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which you have too few platelets — blood cells that help your blood clot. Other symptoms include bruises, bleeding from your gums or nose, blood in your urine or stool, fatigue, and yellow skin and eyes.

Vasculitis Vasculitis is marked by swelling, narrowing, and scarring of the blood vessels. Other symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, weight loss, aches and pains, night sweats, and nerve problems. Viral hemorrhagic fevers Infections such as dengue , Ebola , and yellow fever are all viral hemorrhagic fevers. These infections make it harder for your blood to clot. Other symptoms include high fever, fatigue, dizziness, aches, bleeding under the skin, and weakness. When to call your doctor.

Are there complications? Treatment options. How to prevent petechiae. Trying to stay fit and healthy, avoiding infections, practicing good hygiene and safe sex, and avoiding medication that causes petechiae are good ways to reduce the chances of developing them. Vasculitis refers to conditions that cause inflammation of blood vessels. Arteries, veins, and capillaries throughout the body may be affected…. Anemia rash is a term that refers to red pinpricks that appear on the skin and are caused by a low platelet count.

These rashes often appear on the…. Learn all about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for purpura, a skin condition that appears as small purple spots just beneath the surface of the…. A low platelet count is a blood disorder that can sometimes be serious.

This article looks at platelets and their role within the body. Find out about…. What to know about petechiae. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. What do they look like? Causes Symptoms Seeing a doctor Treatment Complications Prevention Petechiae are tiny, circular, non-raised patches that appear on the skin or in a mucous or serous membrane. It happens due to abnormal cells that are entering the skin and may be accompanied by fever or chills.

Another important rash to note when talking about what does leukemia rash look like is the rash that can accompany chemotherapy treatment. Chemo rashes can often look like acne and can be present on the scalp, neck, chest, and face. They might feel irritated or they may burn and sting. If you do experience chemo rashes during your treatment, your doctor can help to prescribe something that will alleviate your pain and irritation. Vasculitis is another skin rash that can happen in leukemia patients.

It resembles purple spots or lesions that develop on the skin and can also look like clusters of petechiae. Ringworm is a fungal infection that can look like white, pink, red, or brown patches. Remember that although patients with chronic or acute leukemia are prone to a range of skin rashes and infections, skin rashes can also come from a variety of other issues.

Many patients ask what does leukemia pain feel like , and we discuss the uncomfortable nature of skin rashes and issues — there are, however, many additional causes for skin rashes that we should note. Petechiae or skin rashes and spots in addition to other symptoms of leukemia might cause your doctor to call for a blood test and a biopsy and imaging tests as well. Keep in mind that not every patient will experience these symptoms — you might experience a one or a few and the severity of the symptoms will range from person to person.

Knowing which type of leukemia you have will be important when you seek cancer treatment. Our treatment program is designed to stimulate your immune system so that it can recognize and destroy cancer cells. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions you have surrounding your diagnosis. Our targeted therapy options are less invasive than chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other traditional cancer treatment options.

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