This risk is greater in adults than in children. The most serious complication of Henoch-Schonlein purpura is kidney damage. But recurrences are fairly common.Ĭomplications associated with Henoch-Schonlein purpura include: White and Asian children are more likely to develop Henoch-Schonlein purpura than are black children.įor most people, symptoms improve within a month, leaving no lasting problems. Henoch-Schonlein purpura is slightly more common in males than in females. The disease mainly affects children younger than 10. Risk factorsįactors that increase the risk of developing Henoch-Schonlein purpura include: Other triggers include chickenpox, strep throat, measles, hepatitis, certain medications, food, insect bites and exposure to cold weather. Nearly half the people who have Henoch-Schonlein purpura developed it after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold. It may be the result of the immune system responding inappropriately to certain triggers. It's not clear why this initial inflammation develops. In Henoch-Schonlein purpura, some of the body's small blood vessels become inflamed, which can cause bleeding in the skin, abdomen and kidneys. If your child develops the rash associated with this condition, see your doctor as soon as possible. See your doctor if you have Henoch-Schonlein purpura and it's causing serious problems with your digestive tract. Usually this goes away once the illness passes, but some people develop persistent kidney disease. In most cases, this shows up as protein or blood in the urine, which you may not even know is there unless you have a urine test done. Henoch-Schonlein purpura can also affect the kidneys. These symptoms sometimes occur before the rash appears.

Many children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura develop belly pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody stools. These symptoms subside when the disease clears and leave no lasting damage. Joint pain sometimes precedes the classical rash by one or two weeks. People with Henoch-Schonlein purpura often have pain and swelling around the joints - mainly in the knees and ankles. The rash can also appear on the arms, face and trunk and may be worse in areas of pressure, such as the sock line and waistline. Reddish-purple spots that look like bruises develop on the buttocks, legs and feet. The four main characteristics of Henoch-Schonlein purpura include:

Red lines on butt