Disease or Syndrome
petechia Audio
pe·te·chi·a [ pi-tee-kee-uh, -tek-ee-uh ]
Etymology:
Italian petecchia = a freckle
Adopted into modern Latin, in which it is said to mean a small spot.
Definitions related to petechiae:
  • (petechia) Purple or red hemorrhagic pinpoint spots in the skin or mucous membranes.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Petechiae are pinpoint-sized reddish/purple spots, resembling a rash, that appear just under the skin or a mucous membrane when capillaries have ruptured and some superficial bleeding into the skin has happened. This term refers to an abnormally increased susceptibility to developing petechiae.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
  • Pinpoint, unraised, round red spots under the skin caused by bleeding.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Pinpoint-sized red or purple spots that appear in clusters on the skin, caused by bleeding under the skin.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.