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 Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.)

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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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.)

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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 Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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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.