My daughter has multiple bruises on her and doesn't know why?

Question

So the question is pretty much self explanatory. My 13 y/o daughter came home yesterday from school and said to me, "Mom I have all these bruises on me." When I looked at her, I saw many bruises up and down her legs, ankles, and fingers. Even as a former pediatrician, this puzzled me. I asked her if she gets bumped around at school, and she swears she isn't. My mother and my in laws say that I shouldn't be concerned with this, that I and her are both overreacting. Should I be worried?

Answer 1

I don't think your daughter was being honest when she said she doesn't know how she got them. Talk to her, eventually she'll tell you. It could be she is being bullied and afraid of being a tattle tale.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

my daughter is 12. is she in any sports? i know my 12 year old is clumsy, aside from dance & soccer. you know your own daughter. does she fib? there are even stupid pinching games this age plays at school also. if you know for a fact that she isn't with a jerk boyfriend-i hope she doesn't date, but mabey at school- or  watch her when she isn't looking. she could very easliy bump stuff that she doesn't even realize, or it could be as simple as she just bruises easily. however, i think if that was the case it would have happened long before 13 years old. either way-this is a perfect time to have the " if anybody touches you ever" talk again, i would use it like crazy. about boyfriends and all. i had a brat friend that was a girl that always slapped me hard when i wouldnt do exactly what she wanted, if it wasn't for my mom, who knows. my mom caught her the 2nd time and that was it. some girls feel if they tell their freinds to stop, they won't hang out with them again. i went through that. keep an eye out girl. and i would really like to know what you find out!!

Answer 3

(a) She's not telling you something.

(b)  She's anemic.

(c)  She just bruises easily (though something would still cause the bruises).

Answer 4

Of course you should be worried! Your baby has bruises all over her and doesnt know why! This COULD be something serious- take her a doctor and have her blood tested. The same thing happened to me and ended up having ALL (acute lymphoma leukemia). Im not trying to freak you out but it could potentially be something, dont ignore it. She could have high platelets, thin blood, be anemic, and if her blood is thin enough and she bruises, she can internally bleed out.

Answer 5

as a mother HECK YEAH be worried BUT as a child I bruised soooooo easily like if I bumped into chair or fell but nothing hurt the next day I had HUGE bruises....you are doing the right thing but just remember some children bruise easily....

Answer 6

Sounds to me like her iron levels are low. That's how I am & I'm 20.

Answer 7

Of course you should be worried.  If you're a former pediatrician, then you should know that unexplained bruising can be the result of any number of diseases - including leukemia.  Call your family doctor and have your daughter examined.

And then watch her for a while.  Pay attention to how she moves and whether or not she manuevers around obstacles or whether she walks right into them.  Listen to what she tells you about school and her friends.  Listen to what her friends have to say.  If something is going on at school - say, other kids bumping their book bags against her or pushing her into furniture - you'll need to find out and help her deal with it.

But the first step is definitely to make certain there are no underlying health issues.

Answer 8

I would take her to a Dr. At 13, she should remember where they came from if it was a big enough bump to result in a bruise- or at least where SOME came from.

To me, it would scream some kind of blood issue (clotting, diabetes?)

I would get her checked out, have a CBC and such.

I wouldn't think it's an abusive relationship (that does happen that young) because she pointed them out to you. It sounds like she's concerned.

Good luck

ETA: Since other people already suggested it, cancer is a (rare) possiblity. But IDK- Since they're extremeties... it seems like diabetes or something (then, I'm only a hypochondriach and not a Dr LOL) I don't think it would be any wierd kid games like pinching if there are bruises on her fingers. I think they tend to be on arms and legs but I don't know

Answer 9

My friend had this happen to her (as an adult though) and she was diagnosed with a disease that caused an iron deficiency and caused lots of bruising (sorry I don't know the name of it).  The only indicator were the bruises all over her legs.

I would definately get her to the doctor and have her checked out.  Better to be safe than sorry.

Good luck!

Answer 10

take her to a doctor she could have a cancer called leukemia which is it goes untreated she could die!

Answer 11

is she abused??

Answer 12

I would be worried and I would take her to the doctor. Bruising easily can be a sign of bleeding disorders like hemophilia or even a sign of luekemia. It could also be nothing major but it sounds suspicious to me. Good luck. =]

Answer 13

I would definityl keep an eye on her and the bruising. some kids are just really rough and bump into things and hurt themselves and not even realize it! or should could just bruise easy. I think that b/c she came to you and brought the bruising to your attention she isn't trying to hide them like if somebody was abusing her or something like that. I think that if that was the case she would try to hide them from ppl. But def keep an eye on her just incase!

Good luck!

Answer 14

Find out the truth mom and find out quick.

bruises like that on her legs and ankles might mean some type of assault that shes not telling you.

Answer 15

i don't blame you for being worried. i would be, too.

it's concerning that she has multiple bruises. i'm as confused as you are why she doesn't know how she got them. since you were a pediatrician, you know best about medical conditions.

i hate to ask this, but in general, has your daughter been truthful about her issues to you? does she talk to you when something goes wrong in school or with her friends?

if i were in your shoes, i'd keep observing if this happens again and if it does, i'd take her to the doctor. better safe than sorry when it comes to kids.

Answer 16

I'm 28 and I bruise very easily! My gyn has had me on iron pills for anemia ever since I was 18. I had to change my diet to plenty of protein, 'red meat and potatoes' type foods. Anything rich in iron. I don't bruise often now, but I do have thin skin sometimes. My daughters get bruised often too, especially my 4 year old. Kids, young and older, do tend to get all sorts of bumps, bruises, and bug bites, so make sure she's careful and her equilibrium's not off. Check her ears. She may even have anemia, it's not too early too find out. A finger prick and iron test should help. Hope everything goes okay!

Answer 17

Of course you should be concerned. Either there is something she isn't telling you or there might be a medical problem causing her to bruise so easily. Has she started a new activity that can be causing these? Is someone hurting her at school? If this continues, you should have her checked by a Dr. There might be a reason such as her blood is too thin and is she is bruising far too easily.

Answer 18

There are certain illnesses out there that cause spontaneous bruising.

I'd get her to her doctor.  Even if she's not sick and this is for attention (not far fetched, she is 13), either way, she needs a doctor.