Prevalence and distribution of petechiae in well babies

Abstract

Aims: To determine the prevalence of petechial spots in well babies.

Methods: A total of 116 babies under the age of 12 months were fully examined at child health surveillance clinics. The number and site of petechiae were recorded together with details of possible causes.

Results: A total of 27.6% of babies had one or more petechiae, 8.6% had two or more petechiae, and 2.6% had more than two. None of these babies subsequently developed sepsis.

Conclusions: Many well infants examined in the community are likely to have petechial spots. In this setting one or two petechiae are common and their presence should not be taken as pathological without other clinical signs. Recognition of this fact may also be helpful when examining otherwise well infants with petechiae in a secondary care setting.

Figure 1

Body map outlining the distribution of petechiae in those babies with one, two, or three spots. Two babies have been excluded. One had eight petechiae in a group on his right shoulder and one on the left temporal region. The other had approximately 20 on the anterior surface of her right thigh and shin and one on the right arm.