A retrospective descriptive review of children diagnosed with Henoch–Schönlein purpura at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital over a 5-year period (2015 - 2019)

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Published: 2025-06-26
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7196/

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M Makhwarene
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
M McCulloch
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2876-4785
H Buys
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9778-8233

Abstract





Background. Limited data are available on the prevalence, variation in clinical features and outcomes of IgA vasculitis in low–middle- income countries.


Objective. To describe IgA vasculitis cases encountered at a South African (SA) children’s hospital.


Methods. A retrospective review of patients with a discharge diagnosis of IgA vasculitis at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital between 2015 and 2019. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, management and short-term outcomes were summarised using conventional descriptive statistics.


Results. The mean age of the study sample (N=49) was 77 months; male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Rash presented in 48 children (97%), arthralgia in 41 patients (84%) and abdominal pain in 18 patients (37%). Oedema manifested as scrotal oedema in one patient and as facial oedema in three cases. Kidney involvement was evident in 26 cases (53%), with associated proteinuria or haematuria, while isolated microscopic haematuria occurred in six patients (12%). Complications were infrequent: five patients (10%) had IgA nephritis on biopsy and one (2%) had a gastrointestinal bleed. The mean (standard deviation) length of hospital stay was 1.6 (2) days. At one year of follow-up, two patients (4%) had persistent proteinuria; only one patient (2%) still had haematuria.


Conclusion. The clinical course of IgA vasculitis in this cohort of SA children was mostly self-limiting, consistent with international literature. However, patients with persistent haematuria or proteinuria required longer-term follow-up. Collaborative studies in SA and sub-Saharan Africa may provide a more accurate picture of the epidemiology of childhood IgA vasculitis and its complication rates.





Article Details

Issue

SAJCH Vol 19 No. 3

Section

Research
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Author Biographies

M Makhwarene, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Paediatric Registrar

Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital

Department of Paediatrics and Child health

University of Cape Town

M McCulloch, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Professor and Head of Clinical Unit, Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7700, South Africa

H Buys, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Associate Professor and Head of Clinical Unit, Division of Ambulatory and Emergency Paediatrics, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa 

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7700, South Africa

How to Cite

A retrospective descriptive review of children diagnosed with Henoch–Schönlein purpura at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital over a 5-year period (2015 - 2019). (2025). South African Journal of Child Health, 19(3), e2257. https://doi.org/10.7196/

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