Differential diagnosis of childhood hemorrhagic disorders

ABSTRACT

Bruising and bleeding are common events in children. The pediatrician must be able to determine whether a child's symptoms are normal or perhaps indicative of hemorrhagic disorders. A thorough medical history and physical examination should enable the pediatricians to identify those patients warranting further evaluation. This review describes the characteristics of the medical history, physical examination, and clinical laboratory testing that are important in recognizing clinically significant bleeding disorders. This review will help the pediatrician to perform the initial laboratory evaluation, differentiate for patients with bleeding tendency and make the correct diagnosis for a variety of cases.