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Allergic Purpura
Is allergic purpura prone to recurrence?
First and foremost, allergic purpura refers to a hemorrhagic disease that affects the capillaries in the skin or other organs; it is categorized as a rheumatic immune disease. It primarily occurs in adolescents and children aged between five to fourteen years, and cannot be cured. The disease is prone to recurring, which is its main clinical characteristic. The primary causes are infections, drugs, or food allergies, with infections being the most significant factor. Therefore, upon the appearance of skin purpura or bleeding spots, joint swelling, or signs such as hematuria and proteinuria, timely and comprehensive examinations should be conducted for diagnosis. Once the kidneys are involved, it is essential to rest in bed until the proteinuria alleviates. Moreover, it is crucial to conduct a 24-hour urinary protein quantification to assess the extent of kidney damage. If there is a significant amount of proteinuria, it is advisable to promptly perform a renal biopsy to clarify the type of pathology.
Symptoms of allergic purpura
Allergic purpura, which we generally divide into four types. The first type is the mildest, often primarily characterized by purpuric rash-like skin manifestations. The second type we call allergic purpura arthritis type, where patients, in addition to the typical rash, also experience joint pain symptoms. The third type we refer to as the renal type of allergic purpura, where patients often present primarily with hematuria and proteinuria, and urine tests typically indicate positive urinary protein. The fourth type we call the abdominal type of allergic purpura, where patients suffer from nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea as their main clinical manifestations.
Do you need to be hospitalized for allergic purpura?
Whether patients with allergic purpura need to be hospitalized mainly depends on the severity of their condition. For mild cases of allergic purpura, also known as purely dermal allergic purpura, where the main clinical manifestation is a rash primarily on the lower limbs, outpatient treatment is sufficient. However, if the patient has gastrointestinal or renal types of allergic purpura, hospitalization is required. The gastrointestinal type of allergic purpura involves significant symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, while the renal type is characterized by symptoms like edema and significant proteinuria. If allergic purpura affects internal organs, the digestive tract, or kidneys, hospital treatment is necessary.
What medicine is taken for allergic purpura?
The medication for allergic purpura should be determined based on the severity of the patient's condition. If the patient only shows symptoms like rashes, the focus should be on reducing the rashes, and medications such as compound glycyrrhizin and desloratadine can be used for their anti-allergic effects. If the main clinical manifestation of allergic purpura is joint pain, some non-steroidal pain relief medications can be added for pain relief. However, if the patient primarily exhibits involvement of internal organs, such as gastrointestinal involvement in allergic purpura starting with abdominal pain, or kidney damage marked by significant proteinuria, then corticosteroids and immunosuppressants should be considered for treatment. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor).
Can people with allergic purpura eat durian?
Patients with allergic purpura should not eat durian, as durian is considered a food that can trigger allergies, which in turn can provoke the onset of allergic purpura. Besides avoiding such trigger foods in their diet, patients with allergic purpura should also avoid getting cold, as catching cold can lead to infections, which may also trigger an episode of allergic purpura. Furthermore, intense physical activity, like fast running, should be avoided as well, because such activities can also lead to outbreaks of allergic diseases. Allergic purpura is also a self-limiting disease, and can improve on its own after reaching adulthood.
Does allergic purpura cause itchy skin?
The skin of patients with allergic purpura generally does not show symptoms of itching, although it is called allergic purpura. However, the main clinical manifestations are inflammation of the capillaries at the extremities of the lower limbs, accompanied by a characteristic rash, without noticeable symptoms of skin itching. If a patient with allergic purpura also has symptoms of skin itching, it may be necessary to consider whether there is a concurrent allergic dermatitis or similar condition. Besides the typical purpuric rash on both lower limbs, some patients with allergic purpura may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and these symptoms are referred to as the gastrointestinal type of allergic purpura. Some patients may experience joint pain, which belongs to the joint type of allergic purpura, and others may present with proteinuria, which belongs to the renal type of allergic purpura.
What should I do if I have allergic purpura and my legs hurt?
Patients with allergic purpura who experience leg pain indicate the development of the arthritic type of allergic purpura. Firstly, strict bed rest should be enforced in daily life to reduce the burden on the joints. Secondly, active treatment of the primary cause of allergic purpura should be pursued, which can include taking medications like desloratadine dispersible tablets to reduce the rash. Subsequently, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, can be taken to alleviate leg pain. If the symptoms do not significantly improve with these measures, the use of a small dose of corticosteroids may be considered if necessary. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Can people with allergic purpura take baths?
Patients with allergic purpura can take baths, but the water temperature should not be too hot. This is because excessive heat or vigorous exercise can potentially trigger a recurrence of allergic purpura. Additionally, patients should avoid getting cold to reduce the risk of infection, as infections can also provoke episodes of allergic purpura. During an episode of allergic purpura, it is necessary to take some anti-allergy medications and medications that reduce rashes, such as desloratadine dispersible tablets and compound glycyrrhizin tablets. If there is significant involvement of vital organs, such as the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract, some patients may also need to use corticosteroids. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)
What should I do if allergic purpura causes vomiting?
Patients with allergic purpura who experience symptoms of vomiting need to be highly vigilant to determine if it is the gastrointestinal type of allergic purpura. In addition to observing the vomiting, we also need to check for symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea in the patient. Regarding treatment, we need to consider the use of corticosteroids. If the patient’s condition allows, immunosuppressants might also be needed. Dietary considerations are also very important; first, it is essential to maintain a light, liquid diet, avoid spicy or tough foods to manage the vomiting symptoms associated with allergic purpura. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
How many days will allergic purpura take to fade?
The symptoms of the rash from allergic purpura generally subside naturally after about 7 to 10 days. However, if care is not taken in daily life, there is a high likelihood of recurrence of the rash. Patients with allergic purpura should avoid vigorous activities such as fast running and should also avoid getting chilled and infections, as both cold and infections could exacerbate the condition. Additionally, patients should consume less of foods like shrimp and crab, which may trigger allergic reactions.