Henoch-Shoenlein purpura (HSP) is a disease that causes inflammation of small blood vessels (capillaries). This inflammation is called vasculitis and usually affects small blood vessels in the skin, intestines, and kidneys. These inflamed blood vessels can bleed into the skin, causing a red or purple rash called purpura. It may also bleed into the small intestines or kidneys, causing blood in the stool and urine (hematuria). Although HSP is not a common disease of childhood, it is the most common systemic vasculitis in children between the ages of 5 and 15.
What are the causes of the disease?
The cause of HSP is unknown. Germs (such as viruses and bacteria) are thought to be an important triggering factor for the disease because it often occurs following an upper respiratory tract infection. HSP is not a hereditary disease. It is not contagious and cannot be prevented.
What are the main symptoms?
The most common symptom is the characteristic skin rash seen in all HSP patients. The rashes are usually small, red, pinhead-like, slightly raised from the skin, and sometimes in the form of hives. The rash gradually turns purple. The majority of patients (65%) experience painful joints (arthralgia) or painful and swollen joints with limited movement (arthritis) in the knees, ankles, wrists, elbows and fingers. Arthralgia and/or arthritis are accompanied by soft tissue swelling and tenderness at or near the joint. When the intestinal vessels become inflamed, more than 60% of patients experience intermittent abdominal pain around the navel, sometimes accompanied by mild or severe indigestion. It may be accompanied by duct bleeding (hemorrhage). Rarely, a condition called intussusception, which may cause intestinal obstruction and require surgery, may occur. Varying degrees of hematuria and proteinuria (presence of protein in the urine) may be observed. Usually kidney problems are not serious. In rare cases, kidney disease can last for months or years and progress to kidney failure. may occur (1-5%). The symptoms described above usually last for 4-6 weeks. Rarely, they may occur a few days before the skin rash appears. They may occur simultaneously or consecutively.
It can be treated. is?
Treatment is usually a supportive treatment with the use of simple analgesics (painkillers) such as paracetamol or ibuprofen and naproxen when joint complaints are prominent.The use of steroids (prednisone) is used in patients with severe gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding and other It is suitable in rare cases with severe complaints from organs. If kidney disease is severe, a kidney biopsy should be performed and, if necessary, a treatment including immunosuppressant drugs and steroids is started.
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