Medical Health Encyclopedia

Purpura

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Henoch-Schonlein purpura on the lower legs Henoch-Schonlein purpura on an infant's foot Henoch-Schonlein purpura on an infant's legs Henoch-Schonlein purpura on an infant's legs Henoch-Schonlein purpura on the legs Meningococcemia on the calves Meningococcemia on the leg Rocky mountain spotted fever on the foot Meningococcemia associated purpura

Overview Treatment

Purpura

Definition:

Purpura is 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

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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 2 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)

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