COVID-19: Vaccine Info + Changes to Visitor Policy + Keeping You Safe
Middlesex Health is proud to help protect health care heroes in our community. // ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE
Middlesex Health facilities are currently closed to visitors, with several important exceptions. // CURRENT VISITOR POLICY
Middlesex Health is open and providing patient care, in-person and through Virtual Visits. We are continuing to perform all scheduled elective surgical procedures.
See how we're going above and beyond to keep you safe. // HERE FOR YOU
All surgical patients will be tested for COVID-19 prior to their procedure. A patient navigator will contact you to schedule this test.
We are asking that all patients who come to our facilities for an appointment wear a face mask. // MAKE A MASK AT HOME
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.
Petechiae may look like a rash and usually appear in clusters. Here they appear on a leg (A) and on an abdomen (B).
Causes
Tiny blood vessels (capillaries) link the smallest parts of your arteries to the smallest parts of your veins. Petechiae appear when capillaries bleed, leaking blood into the skin. A number of things can cause this bleeding, including:
Prolonged straining
Medications
Medical conditions
Prolonged straining
Tiny petechiae of the face, neck and chest can be caused by prolonged straining during activities such as coughing, vomiting, giving birth and weightlifting.
Medications
Petechiae may result from taking some types of medications, including:
Phenytoin (Cerebyx)
Penicillin
Quinine (Qualaquin)
Infectious diseases
Petechiae may be caused by any of a number of fungal, viral and bacterial infections, including:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Endocarditis
Meningococcemia
Mononucleosis
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Scarlet fever
Sepsis
Strep throat
Viral hemorrhagic fevers
Other medical conditions
Petechiae may also be caused by noninfectious medical conditions. Examples include:
Vasculitis
Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
Leukemia
Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency)
Vitamin K deficiency
When to see a doctor
See your doctor promptly if you or your child develops unexplained or widespread petechiae. It's important to determine the cause, since some underlying problems can be potentially serious.