Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP)
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What is it?
HSP is a type a vasculitis. Vasculitis means inflammation to the blood vessels. Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to injury or infection, but in vasculitis, the body’s immune system attacks healthy blood vessels. It is not fully understood what causes vasculitis, though it could be triggered by a prior infection.
Who gets it?
HSP is a rare condition that usually affects children 2-10 years. It is not known why it affects some children and not others. It is not infectious.
What does it cause?
It can cause:
- A rash that looks like reddish-purple spots or small bruises
- Joint pain and swelling
- Tummy pain
- Kidney problems
- High Blood Pressure
The most common presentation is a rash with joint and/or tummy pain.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) on legs white skin
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) on top of legs white skin
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) swelling joints brown skin
When should you worry?
Advice and Guidance
How do you manage it?
HSP usually gets better by itself in 4-8 weeks and for most children does not cause long-term problems. Paracetamol can be used for pain relief./ Ibuprofen should only be taken if advised by a health professional.
About 1 in every 3 children with HSP, it can come back in the first couple of months, though this is often milder than the first presentation. Very rarely it can cause long-term kidney damage. Due to this, children require regular monitoring for 6 months. This involves checking urine samples with a dipstick and you should have been given advice about how and when to do this.
What should I look out for?
Please reattend your local centre if your child were to have any of the below:
- Visible blood in wee
- Bloody poos
- Severe tummy pain
- Urine dipstick shows 2+ or more of protein
Self care and Prevention
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