Henoch Schonlein purpura is an inflammatory disorder involving swelling of blood vessels. It involves inflammation of blood vessels of intestine, skin and kidneys. It begins as a rash and bruises on the skin forming red scaly patches on the legs and buttocks. The capillaries of various joints, intestines and skin become swollen in this disease. It causes pain on the joints and abdominal pain and in many people it cause kidney problem.
This disorder is largely seen in children and adolescents and rarely on adults and old-age people. Normally this disorder does not require any treatment and resolves on its own but medications are to be given if kidneys are affected. HSP is seen affecting the children for 4-6 weeks with rashes which will disappear in due course.
Causes :
It is believed to be caused by autoimmune disorder in which body’s immune system will attack the healthy blood vessels. The immune system will start responding to the blood vessels due to infection in many cases. Often, the HSP disorder occurs after an infection like upper respiratory tract infection or any other infection.
People who are getting vaccinated for cholera, typhoid, measles or yellow fever can get this disorder. Some doctors believe that HSP disorder is largely seen during cold weather.
Viral and bacterial infection can trigger this disorder in children. It can occur after insect bites or exposure to certain chemicals.
Symptoms :
Some of the signs of HSP are joint pain, inflammation of joints, rashes, abdominal pain and kidney infection or kidney disease. Initially it starts as fever, joint pain and muscular ache and gradually it affects kidney and other joints causing swelling.
The rashes is seen as a clear symptom in HSP disorder and it appears as small red patches on the buttocks and lower legs and slowly it progresses on knees and elbows.