Associate Professor, Doctor Vu Huy Tru, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City, diagnosed the boy with Schonlein-Henoch purpura, also known as IgA vasculitis. Blood and urine tests revealed proteinuria, indicating early kidney involvement.

IgA vasculitis is an inflammation of blood vessels in the skin, joints, intestines, and kidneys, commonly occurring in children aged 3-5. Children may experience raised purpuric rashes that do not blanch, primarily on the buttocks and two legs. The disease can progress to cause abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody stools, and swollen joints, making it easily mistaken for appendicitis, blood disorders, dengue fever, or other joint and kidney conditions. Kidney damage can manifest as hematuria or proteinuria.

Associate Professor Tru examines Dong. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

Associate Professor Tru treated the child's abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, and skin and joint lesions. After nearly two weeks of treatment, Dong's rashes cleared, his abdominal pain resolved, and he returned to normal activities before being discharged. He requires continued health monitoring for 6 months to one year to detect early kidney complications.

According to Associate Professor Tru, most children with IgA vasculitis have a favorable prognosis and recover spontaneously. However, about 20-50% of cases may experience kidney involvement of varying degrees. There is currently no specific therapy for the disease; management primarily focuses on symptom relief and monitoring for complications. Severe cases may necessitate corticosteroids as prescribed.

Most children only experience skin lesions, abdominal discomfort, or joint pain and recover on their own. However, if kidney damage occurs, the disease can become complex, carrying a risk of kidney failure later if not closely monitored.

According to a review study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics in 2022, the incidence of IgA vasculitis is estimated at about 13-20 cases per 100,000 children under 17 years old annually. The precise cause is unknown, but the disease often appears 1-3 weeks after a respiratory infection. Other triggers include: bacterial, viral, medications, insect bites, food allergies, or weather changes.

Minh Tam

*Patient's name has been changed.