Differential Diagnosis for Bruising
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Trauma: This is the most common cause of bruising, resulting from blood leakage into the tissues following an injury.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Elderly skin fragility: Older adults may experience bruising due to thinning of the skin and decreased collagen, making them more susceptible to bruising.
- Medication side effects (e.g., anticoagulants, steroids): Certain medications can increase the risk of bruising by affecting blood clotting or skin integrity.
- Vitamin deficiencies (e.g., vitamin C, vitamin K): Deficiencies in vitamins C and K can impair collagen synthesis and blood clotting, respectively, leading to bruising.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia, von Willebrand disease): These conditions can cause bruising due to impaired blood clotting and may lead to severe bleeding if not properly managed.
- Malignancy (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma): Certain types of cancer can cause bruising due to bone marrow suppression, coagulopathy, or vascular invasion.
- Infection (e.g., sepsis, meningitis): Severe infections can cause bruising, particularly if they lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or vasculitis.
- Rare diagnoses
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: A genetic disorder characterized by skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and tissue fragility, which can lead to bruising.
- Scurvy: A disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, which can result in bruising, petechiae, and poor wound healing.
- Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the deposition of abnormal proteins in tissues, which can cause bruising, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and skin.