Rheumatic purpura, otherwise known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is an unusual inflammatory disease of the small blood vessels and is commonly a self-limited disease. It is the most common form of childhood vascular disease and results in some inflammatory changes among small vessels.
Symptoms of HSP usually starts unexpectedly, including headache, fever, cramping, hives, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, painful menstruation, and joint pain. HSP can evolve from the kidneys, joints, or the digestive system, but, in rare cases, it grows into the brain and spinal cord.
Schönlein’s purpura is a form of the disorder that affects the joints and skin but not the gastrointestinal tract. Individuals with this disorder have purplish spots on the skin and acute abdominal problems. The cause of HSP is unknown, although research demonstrates that it is related to an abnormal reaction of the immune system.
