petechiae?

Hello!  My concern are swollen glands on both sides of my neck and I have also noticed little red specks throughout my body (petechiae)  They are not visible until you look under the light and I seem to have them on my upper arms chest and stomach.  I don't think they were there before!  I am very worried that something could be very wrong with me.  I feel fine, except for being anxious all the time.  I had a baby 9 months ago and my pregnancy was trouble free!  I was wondering if it is standard proceduretake a  complete CBC during pregnancy and if so would they have been able to find any problems?  such as leukemia of any blood disorder.  Does petechiae start out slow and progress?  They are very small and not all in one area.. there's one here and there.  I am worried sick about these spots.  They are sooooo tiny!  Not sure if it is petechiae?  I made an appointment with my doctor two seeks from now.  Should I wait that long if I think it petechiae?  or go to the ER.  Are there any other sypmtoms I should be aware of or concerned about before heading to the ER!  HELP!  I am losing sleep over this..... I need some reassurance. Thank you!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Petechiae are typically non-blanchable (i.e. it retains its color when pressed).  You can discuss the workup with your personal physician, but it should include a CBC with an analysis of the peripheral smear.  Bleeding tests like testing for the INR and PTT should be considered as well.  

If there is question about the diagnosis after the initial workup, you can consider a bone marrow biopsy for a more comprehensive evaluation in conjunction with a hematology evaluation.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
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