Case 4 - History

A woman aged forty-eight is in intensive care following a severe viral infection. She has received blood transfusions to compensate for the blood loss sustained after recent surgery. She also has petechiae and purpura on her lower limbs.

Glossary

Petechiae - These are small spots on the skin, of red or purple color, resembling flea bites. They are small haemorrhages of the skin, as in purpura.

Purpura - These are purple spots on the skin of the body, due to extravasations of blood in the skin, associated occasionally with haemorrhages from mucous membranes.