Spontaneous Gingival Bleeding A Surprising and Sinister Etiology: A Case Report

It is rare for a dentist to be confronted with a situation where the immediate well-being of a patient is dependent upon his or her diagnosis. Spontaneous gingival bleeding, as in this case report, may present such a situation. The patient had no remarkable medical history, was not taking medication and had a recent (two weeks) normal CBC. Only by noticing petechiae on the patient's palate and buccal mucosa was the dentist convinced of an underlying clotting problem. A patient visit to his physician confirmed thrombocytopenia due to quinine in the tonic water he was taking.