Henoch-Schonlein purpura is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and bleeding in the small blood vessels in your skin, joints, intestines and kidneys. Although Henoch-Schonlein purpura can affect anyone, it’s most common in children between the ages of 2 and 6. Henoch-Schonlein purpura usually improves on its own. Medical care is generally needed if the disorder affects the kidneys.
he most striking feature of Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a purplish rash, typically on the lower legs and buttocks. Many people with Henoch-Schonlein purpura develop gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or bloody stools. These symptoms sometimes occur before the rash appears. People with Henoch-Schonlein often have painful, swollen joints — mainly in the knees and ankles. Joint pain sometimes precedes the classical rash by one or two days. These symptoms subside when the disease clears and leave no lasting damage.
Henoch-Schonlein purpura can also affect the kidneys. 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. Usually this goes away once the illness passes, but in a few cases, kidney disease may develop and even persist.