Niece Bruses Very Easily

Hi V. When she goes in for her next well visit you can ask them to do a test for anemia(low Iron) but I would not worry to much My son and myself bruise very easy and we are very healthy it is just the way we are. My son looked like someone was abusing him for a while but when he finally got out of his clumsy stage he was fine. If you still want to boost her iron though if she eats lettuce put raw spinach greens in with it my kids love it with a little dressing and then they get iron that way.

Vitamin K helps with Bruising but talk to her doctor this could be signs of an underlying medical condition.

Karen A is right- Arnica cream works wonders!!!!! I used before and after I had my wisdom teeth out and had minimal swelling/bruising on my face!!!!

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-i-bruise-easily.htm
Another reason that some people bruise easily is a rare genetic disorder called von Willebrand disease, which prevents the blood from clotting properly. This disorder affects at least 1% of the population. The symptoms of von Willebrand disease include excessive bleeding, especially in the nose and gums. The condition can also cause sufferers to bruise easily, typically in unusual locations. Symptoms of von Willebrand disease can be very mild, and for this reason, the condition often goes undetected. Von Willebrand disease is treated with a medication called Desmopressin.

Bruising is not abnormal. In some cases, you may bruise easily for no apparent reason from time to time. The colors of a bruise can sometimes look frightening, but they depend on the severity of the injury. If you experience any bruising that seems unusual, consult a doctor. Bruising can sometimes be a symptom of other illness, such as an irregularity in the liver or the blood clotting mechanism.

If you bruise easily due to accidental or sports-related injuries, it is best to limit the amount of bleeding that occurs. This can be achieved simply by applying an ice pack to the area. If you have no ice available, simply take a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer and apply it to the bruise.

I was wondering if your niece recently received any immunization shots? When my daughter was a year old she received some immunizations and two weeks later ended up with ITP (Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura). She was basically bruised from head to toe in a few days span. I took her to my doctor who eased my thoughts of leukemia and told me he thought it was ITP. Turned out he was correct. We spent a week at U of M childrens and she's been great ever since. They had to give her something called Winrho (I can't remember exactly how it was spelled) that caused her system to attack that instead of her own platelets and she got better. It was pretty scary, but U of M was excellent! Our doctor was excellent.
I hope everything is okay :-)

I highly recommend taking her to a Dr. to check this out right away. Not only do you want to catch anything it could be early, but you want it on the record that you are concerned. My parents were investigated when I was a child because my arm came out of the socket very easily when I was playing, and that was back in the 70's! You want to be the proactive one!!! Also, if you don't feel the Dr. is taking your concerns seriously, find a new one. Second opinions from an unaffiliated Dr. are always good, too. Hopefully it's nothing, good luck.
Also, I saw the recommendation about Arnicia, and I would check it out w/a Dr. first- I just read something about it recently that it might not be a good thing...can't remember exactly why or when.

I know your concerns about people thinking that you are hurting the poor child. I was going through a divorce and took my son in for an ear infection. They treated me like I was abusive and drew blood and were really kind of rude to me and then told me that he is iron difficient and that was why he was bruising. You can buy iron supplements at any pharmacy. I had to use the liquid because he was only 6 and couldn't do pills. I would put it in flavored drinks so that he would take it because, well it tastes like iron. I think that he had to have a tsp a day, but check with a pharmacist. I would think that if it doesn't get better in a week or two, to take her in and get her checked for other causes. However, if your water is high in iron and you don't use bottled, she should get enough without supplements and I would take her in instead of using the supplements. When I moved to a high iron area and didn't have a softener for the cooking water, he stopped using the supplements and was fine.

Before you try and iron supplement because those things can be dangerous for children if not dosed out properly, have your sister take her to a doctor. It could be a sign of something more serious than aenema. Good luck and I hope she is okay.

She needs to eat more greens especially more Vitamin K, which is in Brocolli or take a multible Vitamin like: Flintstone Chewables. They also have Liquid Vitamins for younger than Five at your local pharmacy.

I would check with your neice's doctor. I personally have VERY low iron, I have been hospitalized once and almost again the weekend before Christmas. I do not bruise easily so it is most likely something else.

Good luck.

Hello, just curious you mentioned that your niece is often clumsy, take a look at her joints does she appear hypermobile?

meaning does her joints move beyond the normal range of motion? some like to use the term double jointed.. look at her knees, fingers do they bow back beyond 10 degrees?

I ask because there is a rare collagen disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome one of the signs is they bruise easily.

Many go undiagnosed with EDS for many years before they find out, often times parents of children with EDS are accused of child abuse, but really it is because the child has EDS and no one knows it. You can barely touch them and they bruise.

I myself have EDS and went 30 yrs before I was diagnosed it wasn't until my daughter was 3yrs old when we found out. She was always bruised and still is she is now 10.5yrs old. Three out of five of my children are diagnosed with EDS. You are welcome to visit my EDS Genetic Connection website to read more about it I have some photo's there of EDS in babies, children and adults we look normal but our collagen the glue that holds you together is not. Just keep in mind EDS patients vary in the degree of hypermobility for instance my daughters legs go back farther than my sons, and had to be braced, and for my son he had more hypermobility with his shoulders than his legs yet they both have the same type.

Does she sit in the "W" position often? that is another indicator she may have EDS. Does she have any scars if she does do they look shiny? If you or her mother has any more questions please let me know I would be happy to share more detailed info with you.

http://eds.geneticconnection.freehomepage.com/index.html

you can also visit http://ednf.org

True rule out iron deficiency, but just know if any of the above things I mentioned you do see going on then note that EDS patients have low iron, so my advice to you would be to take her to see a genetic doctor. We see DR.Aughton in Royal Oak Beaumont. I wish I could say the doctors were educated on this condition but unfortunately they are still in the learning process and often can't recognize it well enough to diagnose, which I just don't understand myself because I can see someone in two seconds and know for sure they have it just by looking at them how they move and by touching their skin and joints.

I do know of one pediatrician that is familiar with EDS he is in Port Huron if you want his name, most of them say they know of EDS but they do not know EDS they know only what the text books tell them they don't have the experience and knowledge of how it effects people. Prior to having three babies back to back LOL I was the President of the Great Lakes EDNF Chapter/Support group here in Michigan.

Again Contact me with any questions and yes better to look into it so it is on record.

HTH's

Blessings

R.

I don't know if this will help or not, but I remember my sister going through the same thing with her daugther several years ago and it actually ended up being a neurological disorder (which I pray this isn't?), but you may want to have her mom ask the doctor about it. My niece can't feel any pain and therefore, ends up hurting herself quite frequently (for example, last week, she had a cast put on her right arm for a fracture in her wrist). Just a thought, so please don't freak out!

Hello Auntie!
This child needs to get a work-up immediately! Take her to the pediatrician. Let them come up with the why's of the bruising. Iron can be very, very toxic. IF she needs it, the pediatrician with probably give a prescription of a vitamin with iron in it. But it's nothing to mess with over the counter and in particular, if you don't know why the child is bruising. The bruising is a symptom. It could be as simple as low iron or something more serious. On that note, low iron is serious and then they would want to find out WHY!
Doctor visit is a PRIORITY!
J.

Hi Vicki,
I don't recall what people are low in when they bruise easily, but I know what to use to diminish the coloring. I deal with massage therapists often & they've provided me with a cream called Arnica. I believe it also comes in an oil form too, but I've let quite a few people know about it & they all say it works for them too. So give it a try. You can also find it @ Whole Goods Health Store; Good Foods & probably your neighborhood health food stores.
Good luck.
K.

V., please have your niece get to the doctor. Bruising can be casued by many things, some minor and some not. In our case, my 2 year old nephew was diagnosed with leukemia. He had purple bruises up and down his legs, etc. In any case, a check-up would be a good idea. Please let us know what happens-K..

I'm not sure about what you should do to prevent the bruising, I'm sure there is a supplement she can take that is safe for kids. But, I do know what you can use to make the bruises and pain go away quickly. It is called ARNICA and you can get it at most health food stores. I get mine at the NATURAL FOOD PATCH in FERNDALE. It comes in a tube and you can get either gel or cream. I think the gel works best. It is homeopathic and is totally natural and safe! And more importantly, it works! Good luck! I hope this helps!
R., Ferndale