blood disorders
Platelet Dysfunction
Symptoms of Platelet Dysfunction
Symptoms depend on the cause and severity of platelet dysfunction. People with inherited disorders of platelet dysfunction may have a lifelong history of easy bruising or excessive bleeding after minor injuries or minor surgery such as dental extractions. Boys may have had excessive bleeding after circumcision. Sometimes the first sign in women is that their menstrual periods are very heavy. Other symptoms of platelet disorders include tiny red dots (petechiae) on the skin and bruising after minor injuries. Ecchymoses are large purple bruises seen here on the leg. DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Petechiae are small red, purple, or brown spots as seen here in the skin. By permission of the publisher. From Deitcher S. InAtlas of Clinical Hematology. Edited by JO Armitage. Philadelphia, Current Medicine, 2004. Petechiae are small red spots as seen here in the mouth. DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY 