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'Purpura' is the appearance of red or purple discolorations on the skin, caused by bleeding underneath the skin. Small spots are called petechiae, while large spots are called ecchymoses.
This is common with typhus and can be present with meningitis caused by meningococcal meningitis or septicaemia.

Contents

Classification

References

Further reading

Classification

Purpura is a common and unspecific symptom, however the underlying mechanism commonly involves one of the following:

★ Platelet disorders

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★ Primary thrombocytopenic purpura

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★ Secondary thrombocytopenic purpura

★ Vascular disorders

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★ Microvascular injury, as seen in senile(old age) purpura, when blood vessels are more easily damaged

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★ It's where the red and white blood cells split.

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★ Hypertensive states

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★ Deficient vascular support

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★ Vasculitis, as in the case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura

★ Coagulation disorders

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★ Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
There are also cases of psychogenic purpura described in the medical literature,^[1] some due to autoerythrocyte sensitization.

References

1. Autoerythrocyte sensitization (psychogenic purpura): a case report and review of the literature, Anderson JE, DeGoff W, McNamara M, , , Pediatric emergency care, 1999

Further reading

★ Evaluating the Child with Purpura from American Academy of Family Physicians