Our 2 year old gets petechia when exposed to the sun. The dr. has never seen this before. Has anyone else?

Question

She has had the petechia in the past and we have always been told it was probably viral. She has also had blood counts taken several times with nothing that stood out. She usually only gets it on her face, arms, and upper chest. We are religious about putting sun screen on.

Answer 1

reactions to uv rays are comon, just keep her covered and use plenty of suunscreen. some children are just alergic to direct sun exposure. shell probably grow out of it.

Answer 2

Petichia? This is small bright red spots under the skin? I have petichia because I have a 'autoimmune disease' has your child been screen for 'autoimmunity?'
A petechia (IPA pronunciation: [pə'tiki.ə]), plural petechiae (IPA pronunciation: [pə'tiki.aɪ]) is a small red or purple spot on the body, caused by a minor hemorrhage (broken capillary blood vessels).

Petechiae may be a sign of thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts). They also occur in circumstances when platelet function is inhibited (e.g., as a side effect of medications or during certain infections) or when excessive pressure is applied to tissue (e.g., when a tourniquet is applied to an extremity or with excessive coughing).

Petechiae in adults should always be quickly investigated. They can be interpreted as vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels, which requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent damage. Some malignancies can also cause petechiae to appear. In anyone over eighteen, petechiae should be investigated by a physician within a day or so to rule out the more dangerous conditions. Dermatologists can be the most helpful specialists in these conditions, because they can more easily identify if the condition is petechiae or some similar looking but less worrisome rash.

The significance of petechiae in children depends on the clinical context in which they arise. Petechiae in children are particularly common with viral infections. In this setting, they do not necessarily signify serious illness. They are the hallmark of some possibly serious illnesses, however, such as meningococcemia or various causes of thrombocytopenia.

Answer 3

Hmmm...here's what I found:
Solar Radiation

Prolonged exposure to sun will also lead to collagen atrophy leading to loss of support to the dermal arterioles and venules.

This type of purpura occurs mainly on sun-exposed parts of the hands and forearms or on the legs. Lesions appear after minor trauma or apparently spontaneously.


http://www.dermatologyinfo.net/english/chapters/chapter40.htm