2 y old bruising

Specialties Pediatric

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Specializes in Postpartum.

HI- I am a pre-nursing student accepted into a direct entry Master's program for the fall. I have a 2 yr old- ususally very healthy but has been bruising more than often over the past month. She has a bad cold and ear infection about a month ago- but has been healthy since. She is very active and usually has one or two burises on legs and arms- but I've noticed bruising on her hips and back. She also was complaining that her legs and feet hurt a few months ago. I attributed it to growing pains and she hasn't mentioned it in probably 3 mo now. I have an appt next week with her ped for a 2.5 yr check up- and I'll ask him about it. Are there any specific things I should ask him to check for?

Thanks!

Jess

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Specializes in ICU, step down, dialysis.

Jess, maybe you should call your doc ASAP or go to the ER and have some labs done. My son, when he was 3 years old, had a mild stomach flu...then later he developed bruising and petechia all over (small little bruises that sometimes looks light purple, at least on my son).

Turned out his platelet count was very low...he ended up admitted in the hospital to rule out leukemia. What he actually had was something called ITP...idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and they told me that sometimes when someone gets a mild illness, the body suddenly attacks his own platelets. They are not sure why some get it and some don't. Thank the Lord he didn't have leukemia but this, but it sure scared me BAD. It did resolve on it's own, but the docs were very concerned that he might start bleeding out.

HI- I am a pre-nursing student accepted into a direct entry Master's program for the fall. I have a 2 yr old- ususally very healthy but has been bruising more than often over the past month. She has a bad cold and ear infection about a month ago- but has been healthy since. She is very active and usually has one or two burises on legs and arms- but I've noticed bruising on her hips and back. She also was complaining that her legs and feet hurt a few months ago. I attributed it to growing pains and she hasn't mentioned it in probably 3 mo now. I have an appt next week with her ped for a 1.5 yr check up- and I'll ask him about it. Are there any specific things I should ask him to check for?

Thanks!

Jess

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

Jess, i agree with didi...get it checked now, for your own peace of mind and as a precaution..i have seen kids with ITP, and the earlier it is caught the better. it may be something much less complicated, but no sure way to tell without the labs. keep us posted! Mary

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Jess, i agree with didi...get it checked now, for your own peace of mind and as a precaution..i have seen kids with ITP, and the earlier it is caught the better. it may be something much less complicated, but no sure way to tell without the labs. keep us posted! Mary

Wow- ok, now I'm even more worried. My husband thinks I'm a worry wart and thinks the bruising is from rough housing with him when he gets home from work. I just don't think that would account for bruising on her trunk- you know? And also- he's been playing with her the same way since she was 12- 18 mo old- so why suddenly more bruising now? Do you think it's ok to wait till morning to take her to the ER? Should I call my ped this evening? If it's not truly urgent I think we would all do with a good night's sleep. What do you all think?

-Jess

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Jess, maybe you should call your doc ASAP or go to the ER and have some labs done. My son, when he was 3 years old, had a mild stomach flu...then later he developed bruising and petechia all over (small little bruises that sometimes looks light purple, at least on my son).

Turned out his platelet count was very low...he ended up admitted in the hospital to rule out leukemia. What he actually had was something called ITP...idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and they told me that sometimes when someone gets a mild illness, the body suddenly attacks his own platelets. They are not sure why some get it and some don't. Thank the Lord he didn't have leukemia but this, but it sure scared me BAD. It did resolve on it's own, but the docs were very concerned that he might start bleeding out.

You know, now that I think about it- at the end of her cold/earache which may have been flu- it lasted about a week and a half- she had a 24 hour stomach flu. I forgot about it because it resolved so quickly. I wonder if this is the same thing? Sounds like her immune system may be a little off from fighting off the viruses last month. This is scary stuff - she is usually really healthy. The little bruises all over sounds just like what's going on with her. She has some dramatic bruises that are obviously where she bonker her leg or whatever- but then on her trunk, hips back there are these smaller bruises that I can't imagine what she would have done to get a bruise there, you know?

What did they do for your son? How did it resolve itself?

-Jess

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Specializes in ICU, step down, dialysis.

It actually could have started from the cold or flu...I was told it could be any kind of illness that could trigger this. My son ended up just fine but they monitored his labs...they told me it would resolve on its own but watched his platelet count. He had never had any kind of major illness then, and none since.

I would take her ASAP and get some labs done, even if it's late. A very low platelet count can cause bleeding, even internal. My son, who had these bruises too and we were on vacation when it got bad (but before I sought treatment) fell and hit his head on the concrete at a swiming pool. To this day I cringe thinking about that, because he could have easily developed a head bleed from this.

Please get it checked ASAP...and let us know how it turns out. I hope it isn't anything serious, but a low platelet count, if that is what is it, can be very dangerous, especially with a young child who is active.

I was thinking it wasn't something serious either at first, but something just wasn't right...just like you are thinking now. I remember that so well. But when I found out what it really was, I was horrified and felt alot of guilt that I didn't take him in sooner. I also was worried I would be accused of abuse, and they did ask me in the ER if I hit him, which really hurt my feelings, but I know they have to ask these things...and then they drew labs and his platelet count was 16,000...and his bruises by that time were actually getting better. But I just felt awful, felt like I should have had him looked at much sooner than I did.

You know, now that I think about it- at the end of her cold/earache which may have been flu- it lasted about a week and a half- she had a 24 hour stomach flu. I forgot about it because it resolved so quickly. I wonder if this is the same thing? Sounds like her immune system may be a little off from fighting off the viruses last month. This is scary stuff - she is usually really healthy. The little bruises all over sounds just like what's going on with her. She has some dramatic bruises that are obviously where she bonker her leg or whatever- but then on her trunk, hips back there are these smaller bruises that I can't imagine what she would have done to get a bruise there, you know?

What did they do for your son? How did it resolve itself?

-Jess

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Specializes in Postpartum.
It actually could have started from the cold or flu...I was told it could be any kind of illness that could trigger this. My son ended up just fine but they monitored his labs...they told me it would resolve on its own but watched his platelet count. He had never had any kind of major illness then, and none since.

I would take her ASAP and get some labs done, even if it's late. A very low platelet count can cause bleeding, even internal. My son, who had these bruises too and we were on vacation when it got bad (but before I sought treatment) fell and hit his head on the concrete at a swiming pool. To this day I cringe thinking about that, because he could have easily developed a head bleed from this.

Please get it checked ASAP...and let us know how it turns out. I hope it isn't anything serious, but a low platelet count, if that is what is it, can be very dangerous, especially with a young child who is active.

I was thinking it wasn't something serious either at first, but something just wasn't right...just like you are thinking now. I remember that so well. But when I found out what it really was, I was horrified and felt alot of guilt that I didn't take him in sooner. I also was worried I would be accused of abuse, and they did ask me in the ER if I hit him, which really hurt my feelings, but I know they have to ask these things...and then they drew labs and his platelet count was 16,000...and his bruises by that time were actually getting better. But I just felt awful, felt like I should have had him looked at much sooner than I did.

Didi-

Thanks for your response. I'll call my ped and take her into the ER first thing in the morning. She's sleeping now and I'll let her rest. I've done a few web searches on ITP and it sounds like it could certainly be what's going on with her. It's scary but in a weird way I hope that it is something like ITP which will go away with time and not something worse. I'm just sick with worry about it- I'll feel much better once we get some labs done in the morning.

-Jess

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