What is the cause of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?

Nearly half the people who have Henoch-Schonlein purpura developed it after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold. Other triggers include chickenpox, strep throat, measles, hepatitis, certain medications, food, insect bites and exposure to cold weather.

Is Henoch-Schonlein Purpura life threatening?

Henoch-Schnlein purpura (HSP) is always self-limiting, however, severe fatal complications may occur. HSP can be a cause of DAH. Early recognition of life-threatening complications, such as DAH and bowel ischaemia, is crucial in order to achieve a better outcome.

What is the most common primary symptom of schnlein Henoch purpura?

Symptoms of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura The classic symptoms of HSP are rash, joint pain and swelling, abdominal pain, and/or related kidney disease, including blood in urine. Before these symptoms begin, patients may have two to three weeks of fever, headache, and muscular aches and pains.

Is Henoch-Schonlein Purpura curable?

There is currently no cure for HSP, but in most cases, the symptoms will resolve without treatment. A person may take steps to relieve and manage any joint pain, abdominal pain, or swelling they are experiencing. Pain can be initially managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Is Purpura an autoimmune disease?

This disease is caused by an immune reaction against one’s own platelets. It has also been called autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombocytopenia means a decreased number of platelets in the blood. Purpura refers to the purple discoloring of the skin, as with a bruise.

Is HSP an autoimmune disorder?

HSP is an autoimmune disease that is often triggered by an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include a rash caused by bleeding under the skin, arthritis, belly pain, and kidney disease. Most children recover fully.

What is the fastest way to get rid of purpura?

How is purpura treated?

  1. Corticosteroids. Your doctor may start you on a corticosteroid medication, which can help increase your platelet count by decreasing the activity of your immune system. …
  2. Intravenous immunoglobulin. …
  3. Other drug therapies. …
  4. Splenectomy.

Can you get HSP twice?

Some kids who have HSP get it again, usually a few months after the first episode. If it does come back, it’s usually less severe than the first episode.

Is Henoch Schonlein Purpura bad?

Henoch-Schnlein purpura (HSP) is not usually serious. But it’s a really important condition because very occasionally it can cause serious complications, especially kidney problems.

Should I worry about purpura?

Patients who experience purpura with any of the following symptoms should seek medical treatment: Low platelet count, which may lead to increased bleeding after an injury, bleeding gums or nose, or blood in urine or bowel movements. Sore, swollen joints, particularly in the ankles and knees.

Is Purpura an emergency?

Purpura fulminans is a rare, life-threatening disease state, classically defined as a cutaneous marker of disseminated intravascular coagulation, which can be present in both infective and non-infective disease states [1].

Does HSP blanch?

Henoch-Schnlein purpura (HSP) is characterised by a non-blanching rash, which commonly affects the lower limbs of children aged 3-15 years. It is the most common vasculitis in children. HSP often develops after an upper respiratory tract infection and is more likely to present in autumn, winter and spring.

What kind of doctor should I see for Purpura?

Understanding Purpura Begins With A Professional Dermatologist.

How do you test for Purpura?

Complete blood count (CBC): Measures the size, number and maturity of different blood cells in a specific volume of blood (to measure platelets). Additional blood and urine tests: Measures bleeding time and detects possible infections. Includes a special blood test called an anti-platelet antibody test.

Can Purpura be caused by stress?

Psychogenic purpura (also referred to as Gardner-Diamond syndrome, autoerythrocyte sensitization, or painful bruising syndrome) is a rare and poorly understood clinical presentation in which patients develop unexplained painful bruises, mostly on the extremities and/or face, during times of stress.

What is the life expectancy of someone with ITP?

Predicted 5-year mortality rates ranged from 2.2% for patients younger than 40 years to 47.8% for those older than 60 years. A 30-year-old woman remaining thrombocytopenic due to ITP was predicted to lose 20.4 years (14.9 quality-adjusted life years) of her potential life expectancy.

How do you prevent purpura?

Senile purpura is not always preventable, but people can use sunscreen and protect their skin from sun damage as much as possible. Sunscreens, long clothing, and hats will not reverse damage caused by sun exposure, but they can help prevent additional damage.

Can ITP turn into leukemia?

ITP does not turn into a more serious blood disorder, like leukemia or aplastic anemia. It is usually not a sign that their child will later develop other autoimmune conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus).

Can HSP cause kidney damage?

Between one-quarter and one-half of people with HSP have problems with kidney function, such as glomerulonephritis, in which the portion of the kidney that separates waste from the blood is damaged. Blood in the urine (hematuria) and inflammatory changes in the kidneys may also develop.

How common is HSP in adults?

Though it primarily affects children (over 90% of cases), the occurrence in adults has been rarely reported (3.4 to 14.3 cases per million). This low incidence could be due to either under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Typically the disorder is commoner in males and may follow an infectious illness [2].

At what age does senile purpura start?

The cause is not clear, but it’s more likely to develop after age 40 and occurs more often in men than women. The lesions are painless and benign, so there’s no medical need for treatment. If you’d like treatment for cosmetic reasons, there are several options.

What vitamin is lacking when you bruise easily?

Low on Vitamin C This essential vitamin helps make collagen, an important protein that keeps your blood vessels healthy. If you don’t get enough vitamin C in your diet, you may notice that you bruise easily.

What medications cause purpura?

Other drugs associated with drug purpura include the following:

How often does HSP recur?

In most patients, HSP has an excellent prognosis with spontaneous resolution of symptoms. Relapses occur in about one third of patients, after an interval of 4 months to 1 year from the initial presentation (18).

Is Henoch Schonlein Purpura contagious?

Its exact cause is unknown. It might be triggered by bacterial or viral infections, medicines, insect bites, vaccinations or exposure to chemicals or cold weather. You may catch an infection that caused someone’s immune system to respond with HSP, but HSP itself isn’t contagious.

Is Henoch Schonlein itchy?

This may start out looking like red spots, bumps or raised skin welts which can be itchy. This quickly changes to small bruises or reddish-purple spots that are often raised. It usually appears on the buttocks, on the legs and around the elbows. Blisters and/or ulcers may develop in the affected areas.

Is HSP life long?

In most children, the symptoms and signs of HSP go away within one month, though some children will have problems for three months or even longer. The purpura on the skin disappears and usually does not leave any scars and the joint pain and tummy pain go away. This is called remission.

How long does it take for HSP rash to go away?

It usually appears on the legs and buttocks. You might also see it in other areas, such as the face and stomach. This rash usually goes away in about a week, but sometimes it can last as long as one month.