What is a common cause of petechial hemorrhages?

Petechial hemorrhages are small red or purple spots on the skin that occur when tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, break and bleed. One of the most common causes of petechial hemorrhages is strangulation. When pressure is applied to the neck, it can impede blood flow and cause the capillaries in the face and eyes to burst, leading to the appearance of these small spots. This is particularly relevant in cases of asphyxiation or trauma to the neck area, where the physical trauma and lack of oxygen contribute to this specific injury pattern.

The other options, while they may cause various types of injuries or stress to the body, do not typically result in petechial hemorrhages. Gunshot wounds may cause significant trauma and bleeding but are more associated with larger areas of bruising or laceration rather than the specific small spots characteristic of petechiae. Shock due to trauma can lead to systemic issues affecting blood pressure and circulation but isn’t a direct cause of petechial bleeding. Similarly, cardiac arrest may result in various outcomes related to circulation and oxygenation, but it is not specifically linked to the formation of petechial hemorrhages like strangulation is.