Allergic Purpura


Is allergic purpura nephritis easy to treat?
Allergic purpura nephritis is essentially a kidney complication caused by allergic purpura. The main symptoms are that the patient first presents with scattered purple spots on the lower limbs, known as allergic purpura. Subsequently, routine urine tests reveal hematuria or proteinuria, allowing for a diagnosis of allergic purpura nephritis. It cannot be completely cured. Currently, treatment first requires complete quantification of urine protein and a renal biopsy to confirm whether it is allergic purpura nephritis and its severity. Generally, it involves the use of steroids. Typical treatment involves firstly avoiding allergens, so any substances that cause allergies should not be contacted to prevent triggering allergic purpura, and thus prevent the recurrence of purpura nephritis. Additionally, it involves adhering to a low-salt, low-fat diet, and avoiding catching colds or staying up late.


Is allergic purpura contagious?
Allergic purpura is not a contagious disease; it is an autoimmune disorder, and therefore it is not transmissible. This condition is a self-limiting disease commonly found in adolescents and children. It mainly comes in four types: simple, renal, abdominal, and articular. Common symptoms include purpura on the limbs and body, and it may also involve abdominal pain, joint pain, and hematuria among other organ impairments. During the acute phase, bed rest is required. Sometimes, when the kidneys are affected, corticosteroids are necessary for timely treatment. If there is joint swelling and pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to alleviate pain, and antispasmodic analgesics can be used for abdominal pain.


How to deal with abdominal pain from allergic purpura?
The most common clinical manifestations of allergic purpura are bleeding spots on the lower limbs, hematuria, melena, and joint pain. The presence of melena or bloody stools accompanied by abdominal pain often indicates bleeding from the intestinal mucosa. It is recommended to complete a mesenteric vascular color Doppler ultrasound as soon as possible to identify the bleeding sites. At this time, fasting is absolutely necessary, meaning no food or water should be consumed, as this can exacerbate abdominal pain and bleeding. Fasting should continue until the melena and pain are alleviated. If symptoms continue to worsen, surgery may be necessary to prevent intestinal perforation and the onset of acute peritonitis.


What are the symptoms of allergic purpura?
The most common clinical manifestations of allergic purpura are bruises on the limbs, black stool, hematuria, and joint pain. It is mainly divided into articular, abdominal, cutaneous, renal, and mixed types. The presence of protein in the urine indicates kidney involvement, which means the condition is most severe. Allergic purpura generally can be alleviated with standard and active treatment, but recurrent attacks affecting the kidneys can lead to persistent purpuric nephritis and proteinuria that do not resolve.


What causes allergic purpura?
Allergic purpura commonly occurs in adolescents and children, characterized by frequent relapses and being intractable. It is primarily seen in youth aged between 5 to 14 years. As they age and their immunity strengthens, the frequency of episodes gradually decreases. The most common causes of allergic purpura include infections such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, mycoplasma infections, and allergies to medications and foods, with food allergies mainly stemming from high-protein foods like fish and shrimp, which can easily trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, once skin purpura or proteinuria appears, it is crucial to rest in bed until the pain and proteinuria dissipate and the purpura eases. During treatment, it is also important to avoid cold exposure and overexertion.


Can allergic purpura be cured?
Allergic purpura is a common vasculitic hypersensitivity response, which means that it is a vascular inflammatory response caused by allergies and is particularly prevalent among adolescents, with a higher occurrence in males. Most cases are associated with infections or allergies, with the most common infections being bacterial, viral, parasitic, and mycoplasmal. Seafood and high protein can lead to allergies, triggering allergic purpura. This condition cannot be cured and tends to recur, but as individuals age and their immune system strengthens, the frequency and likelihood of episodes significantly decrease. However, if kidney damage occurs, which means the development of allergic purpura nephritis, it is crucial to regularly monitor kidney function and urine routine to check for the presence of proteinuria. If necessary, cardiac puncture should be performed, and corticosteroids should be administered.


Is allergic purpura serious?
Firstly, allergic purpura is caused by infections, drugs, or food allergies leading to skin ecchymosis and petechiae; in addition, it can also manifest as joint pain, hematuria, and melena. The presence of protein in a routine urine test along with hematuria or melena often indicates gastrointestinal allergic purpura and renal allergic purpura. The presence of proteinuria suggests kidney involvement, which is the most severe type among various forms of allergic purpura. If it is solely a cutaneous type, no special treatment is needed other than drinking more water and ensuring bed rest to alleviate skin ecchymosis. If proteinuria or hematuria occurs, one must rest in bed until the protein levels improve before resuming activities. Concurrently, corticosteroids and anti-allergy medications should be administered. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)


Precautions for Allergic Purpura
Allergic purpura is a common allergic disorder, also known as vasculitis, and occurs more frequently in adolescent males. Adults can also be affected, but it is less common, and the majority of cases are due to infections, such as bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections. Food or drug allergies are also part of the causes of allergic purpura. For adolescents who develop allergic purpura, infections should be considered first, followed by allergies. It's important to maintain a light diet, drink plenty of water, wear a mask when going out to prevent upper respiratory infections, and control the intake of high-protein foods such as fish, shrimp, eggs, milk, and lean meat. As for fruits, including mangoes, some people can be triggered to have allergic purpura, especially fruits they have not been exposed to before; it's best to minimize contact with unfamiliar fruits to avoid inducing an allergic purpura attack.


Allergic purpura belongs to which department?
Allergic purpura is a common vasculitis related to hypersensitivity, essentially a type of vasculitis that belongs to hematological diseases. It is mostly caused by infections or allergies to food and drugs, predominantly occurring in adolescents. It is more common in males, but a minority of adults may also develop allergic purpura. The main types include abdominal, renal, articular, mixed, and cutaneous forms. However, when allergic purpura nephritis occurs, presenting with proteinuria or decreased kidney function, it is necessary to visit a nephrology department. Treatment should aim to control proteinuria, protect kidney function, and reduce damage to kidney functions. Therefore, it is essential to visit a nephrologist at this time. Allergic purpura must be differentiated in treatment; if it is merely a cutaneous or abdominal type, a hematologist can manage it. However, if the kidneys are involved, it requires consultation in a nephrology specialty. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)


What can people with allergic purpura eat?
Firstly, allergic purpura commonly occurs in adolescents and children, mainly between the ages of 5 to 14, and is frequent during the spring and autumn seasons. The most common causes of allergic purpura are infections, drug and food allergies, with infections being the most prevalent cause, such as bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Allergic purpura cannot be cured and often relapses. During the acute phase, it is primarily recommended to rest in bed, and to eat a light diet. It is advisable to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, grapes, grapefruits, and kiwis, which are rich in vitamin C, as well as various green leafy vegetables. These foods, rich in vitamin C, are beneficial for recovery and good for the body. Additionally, foods like seafood and mangoes, as well as previously untried fruits and foods, are not recommended during this phase to avoid triggering allergic reactions or worsening the condition.