Petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-eye) are pinpoint-size reddish-purple dots on the skin. They result from tiny spots of bleeding just under the skin and can show up on any part of the body. Most causes of petechiae are not serious and the dots usually go away on their own without special treatment.

Here's how to care for your child.

• Take your child for any lab work or testing as recommended by your healthcare provider.
• If your child is uncomfortable from fever, and your healthcare provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• Don't give your child aspirin. It can cause Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• Do not apply any over-the-counter creams unless recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Make sure your child returns to any recommended follow-up appointments.
• If a medicine caused petechiae, your child should not take it again. Talk to your healthcare provider about other medicines that are OK to use instead.

Your child:

• Gets a fever
• Has raised purple spots on the skin
• Has belly pain

Your child:

• Has blood in the urine (pee), stool (poop), or vomit
• Has a fever, a headache, and a stiff neck
• Is pale, weak, and tired
• Isn't drinking liquids or has signs of dehydration (not enough water in the body), such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, peeing less often, darker than usual pee, or crying with little or no tears

What causes petechiae? Petechiae happen when tiny blood vessels (called capillaries) in the skin break and bleed. There are many causes of petechiae and most are not serious. When someone coughs, cries, or vomits, the pressure in the blood vessels goes up and the tiny blood vessels can break. Rubbing, squeezing, or sucking on the skin can also break these tiny blood vessels. Petechiae can also be caused by certain medicines, infection from a virus or bacteria (types of germs), or an illness that causes your body to have less platelets (a type of blood cell that helps stop bleeding).

Why do healthcare providers sometimes do testing in someone with petechiae? Rarely, petechiae can be part of other illnesses. Healthcare providers may do testing to get more information.