My child developed a strange rash over her face after a night of coughing. I took her to our pediatrician who said they were "blood spots." She also used another name for the rash that I cannot remember. Is this serious?

During a bout of strenuous coughing, blood backs up into the smaller capillaries in the face. These tiny blood vessels cannot take the increased pressure and pop open producing the blood spots. The medical term for this is petechiae (pa-teak-ee-a). Newborns also may develop facial petechiae from a hard delivery. Petechiae from coughing or from the pressure during delivery are of no concern and disappear in a few days. Petechiae can occur during certain illnesses and may be a sign of serious disease. An infection in the blood stream caused by bacteria (Meningococcus being the most dangerous) or some blood disorders can also cause these blood spots. Therefore, a child who develops petechiae should be seen by their pediatrician. The physician will check the child for petechiae elsewhere on the body and exam the youngster for other signs of illness.

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