Differential Diagnosis for Bruising over Many Parts of the Body
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP): This condition is characterized by low platelet count due to immune-mediated destruction, leading to easy bruising and bleeding. It's a common cause of widespread bruising, especially in children and young adults.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy): Lack of vitamin C can lead to poor collagen synthesis, resulting in fragile blood vessels that bruise easily.
- Vitamin K Deficiency: Essential for blood clotting, a deficiency can lead to easy bruising and bleeding.
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues, leading to fragile skin and easy bruising.
- Older Age: As people age, their skin becomes thinner and less resilient, making it more susceptible to bruising.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Leukemia: Certain types of leukemia can cause bruising due to bone marrow failure leading to low platelet counts or abnormal platelet function.
- Bleeding Disorders (e.g., Hemophilia): Conditions that affect the blood's ability to clot, leading to easy bruising and bleeding.
- Liver Disease: Conditions like cirrhosis can lead to coagulopathy, resulting in easy bruising and bleeding.
- Abuse: In some cases, bruising may be a sign of physical abuse, especially in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.
Rare Diagnoses
- Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the deposition of amyloid (a particular type of protein) in various tissues, which can lead to bruising due to vascular fragility.
- Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE): A genetic disorder that affects the body's elastic tissues, leading to skin bruising and other systemic manifestations.
- Scurvy due to other causes: Besides dietary deficiency, scurvy can also result from malabsorption or certain metabolic disorders, leading to bruising.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels can cause bruising, though it's often accompanied by other symptoms like fever, fatigue, and joint pain.