Is allergic purpura dangerous?

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on June 04, 2025
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Firstly, allergic purpura is a type of hypersensitivity reaction and also a specific type of vasculitis. The main triggering factors include infections, medications, and food allergies, among others. It is not curable and tends to recur. Allergic purpura can be categorized into skin type, joint type, abdominal type, renal type, and mixed type. The presence of black stool, hematuria, vomiting, or proteinuria often indicates abdominal or renal types, which are the most severe forms of allergic purpura. In cases of black stool and severe vomiting, it is crucial to eat timely, replenish fluids, and maintain electrolyte balance. Additionally, it is important to complete a mesenteric vascular ultrasound to check for mesenteric vascular embolism. Moreover, if hematuria and proteinuria occur, it is necessary to rest in bed and, if needed, perform a kidney biopsy to assess the extent of kidney damage. Allergic purpura can be life-threatening because if not treated promptly, it may lead to purpuric nephritis, which can cause symptoms like proteinuria, hematuria, and even hypertension and bodily edema. In severe cases, it may lead to renal failure and induce uremia, greatly harming health. Furthermore, children with allergic purpura may also develop serious complications such as intussusception, which can be life-threatening. If this condition is identified, surgical treatment should be administered promptly.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
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Can allergic purpura be cured completely?

Allergic purpura is a type of vasculitis that recurs symptomatically, but most cases can be cured with systematic and standardized medication. This disease has complex classifications including skin type, gastrointestinal type, joint type, and renal type. The simple types generally have milder symptoms and are easier to cure; however, complex damages often exhibit a clinical characteristic of being difficult to cure. It is important to rest, control physical activity, and follow a cautious and reasonable diet, avoiding cold foods and seafood. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory measures, improving the permeability of peripheral blood vessels, and supporting immune regulation.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Can allergic purpura cause itching?

Allergic purpura is mainly seen in adolescents and children, with a higher incidence in spring and autumn. The most common cause is infection, followed by medications or food, which can also trigger an episode of allergic purpura. The most common symptoms include purpura on the skin and mucous membranes, abdominal pain, blood in stools, hematuria, or joint pain. The purpura primarily affects the limbs, rarely appears on the trunk, and is symmetrically distributed. At this time, the bleeding spots often have no symptoms, meaning there is no itching of the skin. However, when there is concomitant skin edema or hives, itching can occur.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is allergic purpura nephritis contagious?

Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and allergic purpura are not infectious diseases; there is no contagious element involved. Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis is actually kidney damage caused by allergic purpura, which is an allergic disease itself. Patients suffer from an abnormal immune response in the body’s immune system after coming into contact with allergenic drugs or foods, leading to necrotizing vasculitis. This disease is unrelated to pathogens. Generally, there is no direct damage to the kidneys caused by a specific pathogen in this disease, nor do patients carry pathogens that can cause Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, such as bacteria or viruses, thus making the disease non-contagious.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.)

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.