Kids will be kids, which means that they will acquire lots of bumps and bruises along the way. Whether it’s due to bumping into a table, falling off a swing or diving after a ball in the yard, bruises are common among children and only in the very rare cases are they actually a cause for concern.

Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia team shares more helpful info about bruises below.

What Even Is a Bruise?

When an injury is severe enough, little blood vessels under the skin leak or tear, resulting in a bruise. There may be some redness and swelling in the area immediately after an accident.

This is the point at which blood and liquids begin to flow into the tissue, and 24 hours later, the blood that has spilled into the soft tissues loses oxygen and can appear blue/purple or even black. We’ve listed the many different types of bruises below.

Types of Bruises

• Purpura: This is perhaps the most common type of bruise, as it typically involves small bleeding under the skin.
• Hematoma: Severe bruising that is often caused by trauma, such as a car accident or major fall. A hematoma is a collection of blood outside the blood vessels that causes pain and swelling.
• Senile purpura: This type of bruising is more common among older adults. As you age, the skin becomes thinner, dryer and more prone to bruising. This condition is known as senile purpura.
• Black eye: You’ve likely heard of or experienced this type of bruising before. A black eye happens when you’ve been hit in the face, and swelling and bruising causes a discolored ring to form around the eye.

Should I Be Concerned If My Child Has a Lot of Bruises?

Not usually. As previously stated, children are busy and clumsy at times, which often results in more bumps and bruises. In fact, this is a part of growing up!

However, if your children aren’t very active yet still bruise frequently, it could be related to something a little more concerning. If your child is experiencing a lot of unexplained bruises, as well as the symptoms described below, contact our AFC center.

When to Call a Doctor

• Rashes
• An enlarged abdomen
• Fever
• Sweating and/or chills
• Bone pain
• Facial abnormalities

In rare cases, frequent bruising can be a result of a low blood or platelet count. Our AFC Urgent Care Gastonia center can perform CBC and blood panel tests, so don’t hesitate to visit us today if you believe you or your child needs one!