Definition

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Multimedia

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.

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June 25, 2021

See also

  1. Infographic: Blood Cancer Awareness
  2. Endocarditis
  3. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)
  4. Leukemia
  5. Myelodysplastic syndromes
  6. Thrombocytopenia