The cause of HSP is unknown, but it is most commonly triggered by a viral illness (e.g. a cold), and it occurs most often in the spring. HSP usually affects children from two to 10 years of age, but it can happen in anyone. HSP itself is not contagious, but the infection that has triggered HSP may be contagious.
Nearly half the people who have Henoch-Schonlein purpura developed it after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold. Other triggers include chickenpox, strep throat, measles, hepatitis, certain medications, food, insect bites and exposure to cold weather.
Relapses are common in HSP.
Sometimes HSP relapses; this is more common when a child's kidneys are involved. If HSP does come back, it is usually less severe than the first time. The long-term prognosis of HSP largely depends on whether the kidneys have been involved and, if so, how severe the involvement is.
In some cases, it has been suggested that this disorder may be an extreme allergic reaction to certain foods, such as chocolate, milk, eggs, or beans.
Often the cause of HSP is not known. Sometimes it can be caused by another illness, such as a cold or virus. Some foods, or even an insect bite, can also trigger HSP. Most of the time, the rash and joint pain should go away within a few weeks.
How is it treated? There is no specific treatment for HSP other than rest and recuperation, and symptoms usually go away within several weeks. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given to relieve any joint pains. Steroids may be used in children with severe symptoms, particularly bad tummy pain or kidney damage.
Highly sensitive people are more reactive physiologically, that is, their body systems are more reactive to stress. Thus, they can have highly sensitive person health issues related to chronic stress.
The HSP was significantly correlated with self-perceived stress (r = .
Stress & Sensitivity Can Worsen With Age for HSPs. Here's How to Prevent That. If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP) you might be growing larger stress centers in your brain without even knowing it, and if you don't do anything about it, they will become even bigger.
Introduction. Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) is the most common systemic vasculitis in childhood. Its cause is unknown. The mean age at presentation is 6 years and it generally affects children aged 2-10 years.
Outlook. Most children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura will recover completely without long-term consequences. About a third of children with HSP will experience a recurrence of symptoms within the first year after disease onset.
HSP is an autoimmune disease that is often triggered by an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include a rash caused by bleeding under the skin, arthritis, belly pain, and kidney disease. Most children recover fully. But some children may have kidney problems.
Overstimulation, or sensory overload, is when your senses are just completely overloaded with information, making it difficult (or sometimes near impossible) to fully process the information you are receiving. This type of overstimulation is often seen in what we often call highly sensitive people (or HSP for short).
You can get HSP more than once. Get medical advice quickly if the symptoms come back.
HSP can be mimicked by other forms of systemic vasculitis that are more often life-threatening. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis can also present with purpura, arthritis, and renal inflammation.
In a word, yes. As highly sensitive people, our nervous systems are more finely tuned than those of non-HSPs. This means we respond to all stimuli in a stronger way, including traumatic experiences.
The psychologist says overwhelmed HSPs also may feel even more sensitive to external stimuli like bright lights and loud noises and they may feel “irritable, on edge and overcome with anxiety”. “It's also very common for HSPs to feel physically unwell when they are stressed,” she adds.
Do highly sensitive people have higher emotional intelligence than other people? Not necessarily. HSPs tend to have very strong emotions, which is a challenge when learning how to manage our emotions rather than being overwhelmed by them.
S stands for sensory sensitivity:
HSPs are anxiety prone because they process thoughts and feelings deeply. Because of how deeply they experience the world, they're more easily and quickly overstimulated.
Some people identify with being on the autism spectrum and some identify with having Asperger's syndrome and some with HSP. Some see HSP as being part of the autism spectrum as well, while others delineate clearly between the two.
Adults with HSP are more likely to have more severe disease compared to children. HSP usually ends after four to six weeks -- sometimes with recurrence of symptoms over this period, but with no long-term consequences (recurrences are fairly common).
The rash (purpura) changes from red to purple, becomes rust-coloured and then fades completely. About 3 in 10 children with HSP can get it again, usually within 4 months of the first illness. If your child gets HSP again, it's usually milder and shorter.
HSP usually gets better on its own without causing lasting problems. You can give your child pain relief (e.g. paracetamol) or an anti-inflammatory pain reliever (e.g. ibuprofen) to help relieve the joint pain and general discomfort.
Long-term effects
A small number of children (less than 5 in 100) with HSP have long-term problems with their kidneys – this is called chronic kidney disease (CKD). Their kidneys stop working as well as they should – this happens slowly over many years.