Accepted Answer

Easy bruising is a common finding in platelet (blood cells involved in clotting) deficiency and in coagulation factor deficiency.

Platelet deficiency is often idiopathic with no obvious cause and a large percentage of acute easy bruising is idiopathic in nature often following mild cold/flu like symptoms and improves by itself without further treatment. This condition is termed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), occasionally steroids are needed to help treat this condition and bring the count up. Very occassionally the platelets reach a level where a platelet transfusion is necessary in the presence of large amounts of bleeding.

Often in ITP easy bruising, easy bleeding while brushing teeth are noted leading people to see their GP where blood tests confirm this.

There are other causes for platelet deficiency such as drugs or infection.

 

Another possibility is coagulation factor deficiency, of which their are a number and blood tests would be necessary to identify this, most of such problems would have presented with signs before. However if their are certain dietry deficiencies this can lead to easy bruising eg vitamin C.

 

The best course of action is to see your GP as you have already panned, to have the intial blood tests to identify if there is platelet deficiency. Depending on the level your physician may be happy to watch and wait or request further tests. If widespread large bruising occurs with blood loss in urine or stool or profuse bleeding from nose or gums it would be a good prudent to seek emergency treatment.

Until platelet level is confirmed it would be wise to avoid any contact sports.

 

I hope this information is useful, feel free to reply for any clarification