Henoch Schonlein Purpura

Overview

Henoch Schonlein Purpura (HSP) is a form of vasculitis, meaning inflammation of small blood vessels, that most often affects children. The immune system attacks blood vessels in the skin, joints, intestines, and kidneys, producing a distinctive purple-red rash along with joint pain and sometimes abdominal pain. It's the most common form of childhood vasculitis, tends to appear in the school-age years, and while most children recover fully, some go on to develop kidney problems that need to be watched closely afterward.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Is this rash on my child's legs and buttocks consistent with HSP, or do we need more testing to be sure?
• How severe is my child's abdominal pain, and does it need treatment with steroids?
• Are my child's joints affected, and will that pain go away on its own?
• How often will we need to check urine and blood pressure to watch for kidney involvement, and for how long?
• What symptoms would mean we need to come back sooner rather than waiting for the next scheduled check?

Getting Care

Many children with HSP can be managed by their primary care provider, with a rheumatologist brought in for more severe joint or blood vessel symptoms and a kidney specialist involved if urine or blood pressure tests show kidney involvement. Seek care sooner if abdominal pain becomes severe or you notice blood in your child's stool or urine, since these need prompt evaluation.

Source: https://rheumatology.org/patients/henoch-schonlein-purpura-hsp