Definition of Purpura:

Purpura is purple-colored spots and patches that occur on the skin, organs, and in mucus membranes, including the lining of the mouth.

Considerations:

Purpura occurs when small blood vessels join together or leak blood under the skin.

When purpura spots are very small, they are called petechiae. Large purpura are called ecchymoses.

Platelets help the blood clot. A person with purpura may have normal platelet counts (nonthrombocytopenic purpuras) or low platelet counts (thrombocytopenic purpuras).

Common Causes:

Nonthrombocytopenic purpuras may be due to:

• Amyloidosis
• Blood clotting disorders
• Congenital cytomegalovirus
• Congenital rubella syndrome
• Drugs that affect platelet function
• Fragile blood vessels (senile purpura)
• Hemangioma
• Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis), such as Henoch-Schonlein purpura, which causes a raised type of purpura
• Pressure changes that occur during vaginal childbirth
• Scurvy
• Steroid use

Thrombocytopenic purpura may be due to:

• Drugs that prevent platelets from forming
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Immune neonatal thrombocytopenia (can occur in infants whose mothers have ITP)
• Meningococcemia -- a raised type of purpura