Henoch Schönlein purpura in Arab children. Analysis of 52 cases.

Over a period of 6 years (October 1981 through September 1987) 52 Arab children with Henoch Schönlein purpura were studied retrospectively. The annual incidence was estimated to be 6.7/100,000 children under the age of 12 years. The mean age at onset was 5.6 years, and in a mean follow-up period of three years, there was no mortality; three children developed intussusception and one child developed chronic renal failure and progressed to end stage kidney disease. The clinical profile of the disease was essentially similar to other reports. However, unusual features observed in this study included the development of the disease following herpes virus infection in two patients, the involvement of the temporo-mandibular joint in one and bullous lesions in another. The additional distribution of the typical rash over the flexor surface of the lower limbs in our patients was not reported before.