Is allergic purpura prone to recurrence?

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on March 25, 2025
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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.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Precursors of recurrent allergic purpura

The precursors of a relapse of allergic purpura typically occur in patients after exposure to cold, strenuous exercise, or allergens, manifesting as purpuric rash on the skin. Additionally, some patients may experience gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. More severe cases can present with symptoms of allergic purpura and purpura nephritis, primarily characterized by edema and significant proteinuria indicated in routine urine tests. If patients experience the aforementioned symptoms, it is crucial to be vigilant about the possibility of a relapse of allergic purpura and to seek medical attention promptly to prevent further progression of the disease.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Mild symptoms of allergic purpura

Allergic purpura mainly includes three pathological types. The symptoms of the mild type mainly involve changes in the skin, primarily purpura-like rashes around the lower legs and ankle joints. If there are only skin lesions, it is considered a very mild case of allergic purpura. Additionally, more severe cases may involve kidney impairment, such as the presence of protein in the urine. Some patients primarily experience joint pain, also known as the arthritic type. Another group of patients presents mainly with sudden abdominal pain, primarily known as the abdominal type. Therefore, mild symptoms of allergic purpura might just be typical rashes. As long as there is no involvement of the visceral system, it is considered relatively mild.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Can allergic purpura be cured?

Allergic purpura mainly occurs in adolescents and children, often in the spring and autumn seasons, and is typically related to bacterial infections, viral infections, and allergies to medications and foods. The most common clinical symptoms include bruises on both lower limbs, bleeding, black stools, joint pain, and abdominal pain. Upon the appearance of bruises on the lower limbs, it is recommended to complete routine blood tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and autoantibody tests to rule out other autoimmune diseases causing skin bruises. During the acute phase, it is necessary to rest in bed, drink plenty of water, and eat a light diet. If there are only simple skin bruises, these may resolve after rest. However, if joint pain, bloody stools, and black stools occur, formal and active treatment is required, as these symptoms will not resolve on their own. Additionally, the presence of blood or protein in urine suggests kidney involvement, indicating that the condition has worsened.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Can allergic purpura be inherited?

Allergic purpura is mostly caused by exposure to infections, medications, or foods, leading to skin and mucous membrane ecchymoses, which are essentially petechiae and a manifestation of vasculitis. It falls under autoimmune diseases, not genetic diseases, and thus is not contagious. Bacterial, viral, mycoplasmal, or parasitic infections are the most common causes. Secondarily, medications and foods can also trigger allergic purpura, such as high-protein foods like seafood and milk. Therefore, if there are symptoms like ecchymoses on the lower extremities accompanied by joint pain, or signs of blood in the stool or black stool, it is necessary to complete routine blood tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and autoimmune antibody tests to rule out other autoimmune diseases. During the acute phase, it is advisable to rest in bed, eat a light diet, avoid infection, and use corticosteroids for anti-allergy treatment if necessary.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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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.)