HSP (Henoch-Schönlein purpura)
Follow-up
Due to the risk of kidney problems, you or your child's urine and blood pressure will need to be tested regularly during and after treatment.
This may be done during trips to your GP or visits from a community nurse, although you may sometimes be asked to check your child's urine yourself and seek further adviceif the results suggest there is a problem.
The exact timing of these tests can vary, but they will usually start off being daily (if testing is done at home) or weekly at first and become less frequent over time. If no problems develop, monitoring can usually stop after around six months.
If any problems are detected, you or your child will be referred to a specialist for further tests and any necessary treatment.
Testing your or your child's urine
If you are asked to check your or your child's urine, you will be given containers to use and a special dipstick that detects small amounts of blood or protein in urine.
Your doctor or a nurse will tell you how to use these and how often a urine sample should be tested.
You'll need to collect a urine sample first thing in the morning, as this gives the most accurate reading.
Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about what the results of the test mean and what you should do if they suggest there is a problem.
When to seek medical advice
Regardless of yourdipstick results, you should contact your GP, nurse or hospital if you or your child:
- pass red, rusty or blood-coloured urine
- pass stools with blood in them
- develop very painful and swollen joints
- develop severe tummy pain
- have swollen or painful testicles
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Henoch-Schnlein purpura (HSP) is a rare condition in which blood vessels become inflamed. It typically results in a rash and joint and tummy pain.
Signs andsymptoms
The main symptoms of HSP are: a skin rash (purpura) that looks like small bruises or reddish-purple spots, usually on the buttocks, around the elbows and on the legs, and sometimes also on the
Possible complications
HSP will usually get better on its own without causing any further problems, but occasionally it can lead to potentially serious complications. The main complications associated with HSP are problems
What causes HSP?
HSP is caused by a problem with your immune system, possibly as a result of a previous infection. Ithas been known to occur after a bacterial or viral infection of thethroat, airways or lungs ( respi
Diagnosing HSP
Your GP maysuspect HSP based onyour symptoms and medical history. To confirm a diagnosis, you may need to be referred to a hospital doctor for the following tests: blood tests to see how well t
Treating HSP
HSP is not usually serious. Most people can be treated at home with only occasional appointments to monitor the condition, although in severe cases admission to hospital may be necessary. The rash, j
Follow-up
Due to the risk of kidney problems, you or your child's urine and blood pressure will need to be tested regularly during and after treatment. This may be done during trips to your GP or visits from a
Outlook
HSP usually gets better on its own within about four to six weeksand doesn't generally cause any lasting problems. However, the condition can sometimes be severe and long-lasting particularly in adul
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