Purpura

Question 1

What are purpura?

Answer 1

Bleeding into the skin from small blood vessels producing a non-blanching rash

Question 2

What is the name for a small purpura?

Answer 2

Petechiae

Question 3

What are the causes of purpura?

Answer 3

Low platelets
Bleeding disorders
Von Willebrand disease

Question 4

What life threatening diseases can purpural be indicative of (particularly in children)?

Answer 4

Meningococcal septicaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

Question 5

What are the causes of purpura in children?

Answer 5

Meningococcal septicaemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Congenital bleeding disorders
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Henoch-Schonlein purpura
Non-accidental injury

Question 6

What are the causes of purpura in adults?

Answer 6

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Bone marrow failure (secondary to leukaemia, myelodysplasia or bone mets)
Senile purpura
Drugs (quinine, antiepileptics, antithrombotics)
Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins B12, C and folate)

Question 7

What sort of purpura can be seen in bad cough?

Answer 7

Raised SVC pressure may cause petechiae in the upper body but would not cause purpura.