Hematohidrosis, also known as hematidrosis, is a condition in which a person sweats blood. This condition is extremely rare and while it may seem gruesome, hematohidrosis has not been shown to be life-threatening.
Patients with hematohidrosis will sweat blood or blood appears from the pores of their skin, even though they are not injured. Cases like this are very rare, and the cause of this complaint is still not clearly known.
One case of hematohidrosis ever reported occurred in a girl in India. A series of medical examinations were carried out to detect the cause of the hematohidrosis suffered and the results showed that the child did not have any abnormalities.
Causes of Hematohidrosis
Not much information is known about hematohidrosis because it is a very rare disease. Allegedly, hematohidrosis is caused by bleeding in the capillaries that drain blood to the sweat glands. Capillaries are small blood vessels located in body tissues that function to carry important nutrients throughout the body.
Normally, the body produces chemicals such as the hormones cortisol and adrenaline, to prepare the body for a threat. The release of cortisol and adrenaline makes the body more energized and alert. However, in patients with hematohidrosis, this self-defense reaction triggers capillary rupture. As a result, blood escapes through the sweat glands from the ruptured blood vessels.
This condition may be triggered by high blood pressure, severe stress, emotional stress, or extreme fatigue. In addition, there are other factors suspected of causing hematohidrosis.
The first is menstrual bleeding not from the uterus, and the second is psychogenic purpura or a condition in which bleeding occurs suddenly without cuts or bruising. However, all these allegations still require further research.
Symptoms of Hematohidrosis
The most obvious symptom of hematohidrosis is sweating in the form of blood from the skin pores. This condition can occur on any part of the body, but is most common on the face. Blood can also come out of the mucosal lining, such as from the mouth and nose.
The skin around the area that bleeds may experience temporary swelling. Sufferers can also become dehydrated. Although it may sound scary, hematohidrosis has not been proven to be dangerous. The blood that comes out will also stop by itself.
How to Overcome Hematohidrosis
Hematohidrosis is not life-threatening. But the blood that comes out of the surface of the skin must be very disturbing and affect appearance.
In addition, patients with hematohidrosis may also need to carry out a series of examinations such as physical and supporting examinations in the form of liver, kidney function tests, ultrasound, CT Scan, and endoscopy.
If the test results show no abnormalities and the patient is feeling stressed, the doctor may suggest therapy to control stress so that hematohidrosis does not appear.
To stop the bleeding, the doctor will treat the triggering factor, such as stress or high blood pressure. Patients with hematohidrosis may be given the following drugs:
- Antidepressant drugs to relieve depression
- Medicines to help blood clot
- Medication to lower high blood pressure
If there are complaints in the form of bloody sweat, you are advised to consult a doctor. The doctor will carry out further examinations and provide treatment according to the triggering factor.
