Unexplained bruising: a developing story
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Author Spotlight: Developing a Simple and Robust Hepatic Model for Pharmacological and Toxicological Applications
Published on: October 20, 2023
Lucy Backhouse1, Danielle Furnell1, Isabelle Li Kam Wa1
1Department of Paediatrics, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Abstract:
We present the case of a 10-month-old male infant who presented to accident and emergency with unexplained bruising of the ear. Initial blood tests showed no clotting or platelet abnormalities and non-accidental injury investigation commenced. He was subsequently reviewed by the dermatology team who suggested the diagnosis of acute haemorrhagic oedema of infancy presumably triggered by a viral or bacterial infection, and the clinical findings fit this diagnosis.
Related Concept Videos
Sustainable Development
Language Development
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Development of the Lymphatic System
The first lymph sacs to form are the paired jugular lymph sacs located at the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. From these sacs, lymphatic capillary plexuses extend to the thorax, upper limbs, neck, and head, eventually forming lymphatic vessels. Each jugular lymph sac maintains a...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Development of the Heart
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart...
Fruit Development, Structure, and Function

