PLEASE HELP!!! My 5 year old has been diagnosed with HSP

Hi Matthew, so sorry to hear your daughter has HSP. The good news is that because she is young, this nightmare should not last long term. Generally, I understand with small children it goes within about 6 weeks or so. There is no cure! Just lots of rest and keep in touch with your doctor and keep having blood tests to monitor the blood or protien in her Urine.

My daughter was diagnosed with HSP 6 weeks ago. It's been a long road but finally the bruising has ceased and she moves with ease again. I can completely sympathise, at it's worst my daughter was in agnosing pain and it broke our hearts to see her in such discomfort. We found with complete rest the swelling eased and the bleeding was less frequent/ severe. With time it will get better, until then lots of cuddles and ice cream (that always put a smile of my daughters face!)

Hi Matthew,

I totally understand what you are going through. My son was diagnosed with HSP when he was 5 as well. Because it affected his stomach they gave him a steroid (prednisone). We went to see a pediatric rheumatologist who had a lot of experience with HSP (only one of our pediatricians had seen it). Anyway the prednisone was amazing and he was able to walk within a few days of taking it. I think it was about 6 weeks as another commenter mentioned, but after the first week he was way better from taking the steroids. I was really glad we went to the specialist - I'm not sure if you've already seen a specialist. He is 7 now and I can still remember how freaked out and upset I was at the time. It does get better. Take care and if you ahve any questions let me know. -Jeanna

So sorry to hear that Matthew. I have HSP but didn't start to get it until my 20s, and wasn't actually diagnosed until recently. I'd had all the symptoms on and off for years without knowing what it was.

If you can monitor your daughter's diet I have found that changing my diet - as I have got older and dealt with the flare ups without knowing what they were - helps. Less fatty foods on the stomach - so less red meat or dairy. I love cheese but it has helped me to cut down. I get less stomach cramps now. I try not to eat too much food with additives - so very little tinned food, or fizzy drinks. I eat a lot of veg and salad, and I gradually became vegetarian - although I don't think that's essential as long as you cut down on fatty meats. I find fatty food gives me stomach cramps.  Coffee will set me off too. 

My flare ups tend to be when I am stressed or run down. So hopefully, your daughter can rest and get good sleep. I take a vitamin supplement every day to make sure I get enough vitamins. The bruising and spots will go after the flare ups settle down. Once I am well enough to massage cream into the bruising I use some vitamin E cream. 

Now I know what HSP is I can look back and see that I've had some frequent and severe bouts of it for periods of time, but I have gone as long as 10 years without a flare uo too, so there is hope! Good luck with your daughter.

My 9 year old got HSP after using Prozac. It cleared up quickly with no issues. We tried Celexa and it came back again. It was frustrating to me to hear that the doctors don't really know what causes it. Even though she had to suffer through it twice, I found that knowing it came back with a different medicine helped me feel more confident that I know how to prevent it in the future. It may come back in about 6 months, but be gone after that, and I hear isn't likely to be seen again. It's hard to see your kids hurting, but she should be ok with no long term effects.

Hello Matthew. So sorry to hear that and I know how you feel. My son is 3.5 years old and was disgnosed with HSP about 4 months ago. I'm from Malaysia, Penang which our local doctor could not confirm his condition early as he only showed signs of stomach cramps for about 2 weeks. During that period which the local Dr. kept giving him antibiotics. We decided to bring him to Singapore which they did a scope and finally confirmed he has HSP. He has very little rash on his legs. They gave him Prednesolone which he is on until today, with a very mild dosage, 2.5mg alternate days.

After taking prednesolone, he got better in a day, he could walk every where as the main discomfort was his stomach. From then till now, this condition has relappse twice. Initially when the SG Dr tappered and eventually stop the meds and perhaps yesterday night again which I believe his flu / sore throat may have triggered it.

Like others have suggested, it is important to regularly check the urine for blood and protein. Keeping some urine test strips will be quick and helpful. Other than that, he eats almost everything and stays active. Its been 4 months and I still see a relappse which we will bring him to see our local Dr to adjust the prednesolone dosage if nevessary. 

As parents, the best we can do is to provide the comfort and support during these episods and hope one day the immunesystem will recorrect its over reacting responce as they grow older. In my son's case, we need to learn to notice if he is consealing the pain. Sometimes he tends to hide the pain but we can see the change in facial expression, walking behaviour or lost of appitite. 

Stay strong!

My 9 year son was diagnosed with HSP 9 weeks ago, it started with sore legs then the next day he had stomach cramps, we took him to dr who said it was a bug , next day his testicles were all swollen we rushed him to hospital they said fluid retention ! We brought him home but gut instinct suggested we knew something was up , that evening his arm swelled up then his feet , we drove to the childrens hospital an hour away, by the time we got there his lower half was covered in red spots, the drs were fantastic and diagnosed HSP within an hour, we had to stay in hospital 14 days, he was started on steroids and 9 weeks on he only has to take 10mg a day now (originally 50mg per day) he has a wee fat face and belly which depresses him and ive cried non stop because i dont have a magic wand to make him better, its a hard road but you'll get there slowly slowly, unfortunately my son did develop kidney problems hence why hes still on the steroids but hes able to walk about now and go swimming so we are at last seeing an improvement, id never ever heard of HSP before, but what a horrible infection it is..please stay strong xxx