Which symptom is a sign of thrombocytopenia?

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Thrombocytopenia lowers the blood’s ability to form a quick platelet plug after tiny vessel injuries, so you see small, pinpoint bleeds in the skin and mucous membranes. Petechiae are these tiny spots that result from capillary leakage and they usually don’t blanch when pressed, reflecting extravasated blood. This makes petechiae a classic sign of low platelets.

Hypertension isn't about bleeds from small vessels; it’s a high-pressure condition affecting vessels differently. Splenomegaly can occur with various blood disorders and may involve platelet sequestration, but it isn’t the direct sign of a reduced platelet count. Gout involves uric acid crystals and joint inflammation, not platelets.

So the symptom that points to thrombocytopenia is petechiae.