Purpura

Question 1

Purpura

Answer 1

Bleeding into skin from small blood vessels
non-blanching rash
typically caused by low platelets (but seen iin bleeding disorders too)

Question 2

Causes of purpura in children

Answer 2

• meningococcal septicaemia
• acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
• congenital bleeding disorders
• immune thrombocytopenic purpura
• henoch-schonlein purpura
• non-accidental injury

Question 3

Causes of purpura in adults

Answer 3

• immune thrombocytopenic purpura
• bone marrow failure (secondary to leukemias, myelodysplasia, bone mets)
• senile purpura
• drugs
• nutritional deficiencies (vit B12, C, folate)

Question 4

Importance of recognising purpura

Answer 4

• may indicate serious underlying disease
• children with new rash -> admit for investigations
• give parenteral abs if suspected meningococcal