Symptom: Bruising

Introduction: Bruising

Further information about Bruising is below, or review more specific information about these types of Bruising: arm bruise, leg bruise, ankle bruise, back bruise, breast bruise, buttock bruise, calf bruise, chest bruise or other types.

Bruising is the body's normal response to local trauma or damage. Local bruising needs investigation to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of the bruising. Certain medical conditions such as bleeding disorders can also lead to more generalized or excessive bruising. People with these conditions bruise easily and more than normal. Some possibilities include hemophilia (genetic disease) and the lesser known and often undiagnosed Von Willebrand's disease. Any unexplained bruising needs medical investigation.

» Review Causes of Bruising: full list

Causes of Bruising:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Bruising. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Injury
  • Normal child play - every child gets bumps and bruises.
  • Accident
  • Falls
  • Physical abuse
• Causes of bruising easily or widespread bruising include:
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Hemophilia
  • Von Willebrand's disease
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Immune disorder
  • Leukemia
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • Scurvy
• Blood vessel hemorrhage

See full list of 216 causes of Bruising

» Review Causes of Bruising: full list

Causes of Types of Bruising:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Bruising:

• Arm bruise (6 causes)
• Leg bruise (8 causes)
• Ankle bruise (8 causes)
• Back bruise (6 causes)
• Breast bruise (8 causes)
• Buttock bruise (6 causes)
• Calf bruise (9 causes)
• Chest bruise (8 causes)
• Chin bruise (7 causes)
• Ear bruise (6 causes)
• Elbow bruise (6 causes)
• Eye bruise (5 causes)
• Eyelid bruise (5 causes)
• Facial bruise (7 causes)
• Finger bruise (8 causes)
• Thumb bruise (6 causes)
• Fingernail bruise (7 causes)
• Foot bruise (7 causes)
• Genital bruise (10 causes)
• Penile bruise (12 causes)

See full list of 78 types for Bruising

Bruising: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Bruising, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Bruising: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Bruising and Bleeding symptoms (199 causes)
• Bruising and Blood clots (179 causes)
• Bruising and Hematoma (179 causes)
• Bruising and Easy bruising (122 causes)
• Bruising and Nerve symptoms (115 causes)
• Bruising and Pain (113 causes)
• Bruising and Sensations (110 causes)
• Bruising and Skin symptoms (101 causes)
• Bruising and Head symptoms (100 causes)
• Bruising and Skin problems (99 causes)
• Bruising and Swelling symptoms (99 causes)
• Bruising and Muscle weakness (87 causes)
• Bruising and Weakness (82 causes)
• Bruising and Fatigue (80 causes)
• Bruising and Digestive symptoms (79 causes)
• Bruising and Muscle symptoms (71 causes)
• Bruising and Face symptoms (69 causes)
• Bruising and Liver problems (69 causes)
• Bruising and Liver symptoms (69 causes)
• Bruising and Body symptoms (68 causes)

See full list of 1062 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Bruising

Home Diagnostic Testing and Bruising

Home medical tests possibly related to Bruising:

• Fatigue: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Anemia Tests
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests
  • Home Calcium Deficiency Tests
  • Home HIV Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Bleeding symptoms (914 causes)
• Hematoma (187 causes)
• Blood clot (189 causes)
• Clotting symptoms (128 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Bruising

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Bruising:

• Bleeding (914 causes)
• Clotting symptoms (128 causes)
• Blue skin (199 causes)
• Skin color changes (712 causes)
• Skin rash (559 causes)
• Fractures (106 causes)
• Falls (22 causes)
• Injuries

Diagnostic Guides for Bruising

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Bruising from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Bruising. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Bruising

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Bruising

Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite common in women, but often fails to be...read more »

Psoriasis often undiagnosed cause of skin symptoms in children: Children who suffer from the skin disorder called psoriasis can often go undiagnosed. The main problem is that psoriasis is...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Bruising

Diagnostic tests for Bruising:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Bruising. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Examine for bruises which may suggest Hemophilia, Christmas disease, platelet disorders or disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • Examine for petechial body rash (pinhead size red rash) which is common in any disorder that might cause thrombocytopenia (reduced platelets), platelet dysfunction or vasculitis
  • Examine for bleeding gums - if bleeding gums is present with skin bruises suggests platelet disorders or disseminated intravascular coagulation.
  • Look for gum hypertrophy (enlargement) which occurs in monocytic Leukemia, pregnancy, scurvy, gingivitis and in patients taking phenytoin

See full list of 22 diagnostic tests for Bruising

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Bruising. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the bruising ? - determines if acute or chronic; acquired or inherited.
• Type of bruising under the skin? - purpura ( multiple small hemorrhages into the skin or mucous membranes); petechiae (small pinhead size purpura); ecchymoses ( large purpura).
• If petechiae are present, are they palpable? - if palpable it suggests due to an underlying vasculitis affecting small vessels e.g. polyarteritis nodosa; if not palpable it suggests due to a platelet defect.
• Is bruising abnormal and out of proportion to the offending injury? - suggests a disturbance of coagulation.
• Is bruising spontaneous? - suggests the presence of a systemic bleeding defect.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Bruising (17 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Bruising) may include:

• Have you noticed bleeding from other areas? - e.g. blood in urine, heavy menstrual periods, bleeding nose, bleeding gums, swollen painful joints, rectal bleeding? - suggests presence of a systemic bleeding defect.
• Tiredness, weight loss, fever or sweats? - may suggest malignancy such as leukemia.
• Skin rash? - may suggest lupus erythematosus which can cause an autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
• Widespread itchiness of skin? - may suggest myeloproliferative cancers that can cause an acquired bleeding disorder or iron deficiency secondary to blood loss.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Bruising (17 listings)

Stories from Users for Bruising

Real-life user stories relating to Bruising:

• Drug Fever & Going Cold Turkey From A Medicine Used For A Long Time
• Looks like depression, but it's not
• Always tired! It's ruining my life! Long post but PLEASE HELP
• Many symptoms. No Diagnosis. Help me! (im sorry its long)
• blood filled blisters on vulva
• Sick for a long time
• tiny black looking splinters under fingernails
• Lets see if it works this time......
• Bruising
• i know its long but please read our family
• Misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, sorry it's long...
• Does this look like Molluscum? Please help!
• skin bruising
• Spontaneous bruising
• Dizziness, bruising and other symptoms
• Bruise
• Unexplained bruising
• Bruising
• Skin Bruising
• Unexplained Bruising

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Bruising or relevant symptoms:

• Constitutional (General Wellbeing) (156)
  • Sore Scalp/hair follicles
  • Fat loss in entire body
  • Dont know how much more I can take..
  • I'm Lost.
  • My wife does not sweat I'm worried
  • More user stories
• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Hematologic/Lymphatic (Blood and Lymph) (106)
  • High platelet count
  • Extreme neck pain, swollen lymph node -help
  • Swollen lymph nodes in groin
  • Nipple Discharge
  • Swollen Lymph Node for 2 1/2 months
  • More user stories

Videos for Bruising

Patient Surveys for Bruising

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Bruising
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Medications or substances causing Bruising:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Bruising as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Blood thinning medications
• Birth control pills
• Aspirin
• Certain arthritis medications
• Certain diuretics

See full list of 67 medications causing Bruising

Drug interactions causing Bruising:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Bruising as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Miconazole and warfarin interaction
• Verapamil and Propranolol interaction
• Verapamil and Allopurinol interaction
• Warfarin and Metronidazole interaction
• Chlorambucil and Aspirin interaction

See full list of 7 drug interactions causing Bruising

Organs affected by Bruising:

The list of organs typically affected by Bruising may include, but is not limited to:

• Blood

Detailed list of causes of Bruising

The list below shows some of the causes of Bruising mentioned in various sources:

• Aantibodies anti-FVIIIc syndrome - easy bruising
• Accident
• Accidental injury - Bruise
• Acquired amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia - easy bruising
• Acquired Aplastic Anemia - easy bruising

See full list of 216 causes of Bruising

How Common are these Causes of Bruising?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Bruising. Of the 216 causes of Bruising that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 1 causes are "very common" diseases
• 4 causes are "common" diseases
• 6 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 1 causes are "rare" diseases
• 11 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 196 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 216 causes of Bruising

Conditions listing symptoms: Bruising:

The following list of conditions have 'Bruising' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Bruising Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Bruising based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: