A child with Henoch-Schonlein purpura secondary to a COVID-19 infection

Abstract

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a common IgA-mediated small vessel vasculitis of childhood that affects several systems. It is characterised by a tetrad of dermatological, abdominal, joint and renal manifestations. HSP can occur secondary to upper respiratory tract infections, medications, vaccinations and malignancies. COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a single-stranded RNA virus from the Beta-Coronaviridae family, and often presents as a respiratory infection with symptoms ranging from a mild common cold-like illness to severe pneumonia. It has also been reported to exhibit extrapulmonary manifestations, including but not limited to cardiac, thrombotic, hepatocellular and dermatological complications. We report a case of a 4-year-old boy who presented with clinical features of HSP, with detailed history that revealed a recent recovery from a COVID-19 upper respiratory tract infection, indicating a possible correlation between the two.