Thrombosis

Also known as: blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, DVT.

What is thrombosis?

When a blood clot forms in a blood vessel, the process is known as thrombosis. This is usually a normal bodily function that helps to stop the flow of blood from a damaged blood vessel. After a time these clots normally dissolve after they're no longer needed.

Sometimes blood clots form in blood vessels (arteries and/or veins) which aren’t damaged. This can lead to harmful complications.

What causes thrombosis?

An abnormal clotting tendency in children is caused either by inherited genetic disorders of blood clotting (thrombophilias), or is an acquired condition (from damage to blood vessels or a slowed blood flow) resulting from a variety of factors like some medical conditions (e.g.chronic inflammatory conditions), lack of mobility, obesity, trauma (from catheters), and in older adolescents smoking and oral contraceptive use.

What are the symptoms of thrombosis?

Depending on the vessel involved and the position of the thrombosis symptoms can include pain, swelling, trouble breathing, cough, sweating, anxiety, fatigue or serious complications such as heart attack or stroke.

What are thrombosis care options?

Taking medications that thin the blood (anticoagulants e.g. low-dose aspirin), improving blood flow by activity, preventing blood stagnating in veins (e.g. with compression stockings and walking), managing underlying medical/surgical conditions and lifestyle changes may all singly or in combination be of benefit.


Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: April 07, 2022 01:52 PM

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