Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is also known as immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) and is the most common form of systemic vasculitis in children. Approximately 90% of the HSP cases occur in pediatric age group. The disease is characterized by a tetrad of clinical manifestations such as a palpable Purpura without thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy, arthritis/arthralgia, abdominal pain, and renal disease. This article covers a step by step approach for diagnosing HSP in children. The clinical features of HSP develop over the course of days to weeks and may vary in their order of presentation.
The classic tetrad of HSP as mentioned above are the usual presenting symptoms. Purpura and joint pain may usually be the first symptoms to appear. HSP is less likely the cause in absence of purpuric rash. The abdominal pain comes as the next symptom and is usually colicky in nature followed by renal…
