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Conditions Henoch-Schonlein purpuraFrom MayoClinic.com Special
to CNN.com Henoch-Schonlein purpura affects the small blood
vessels of your skin, joints, intestines and kidneys, causing
them to become inflamed and swollen (vasculitis). Blood vessel
inflammation can cause bleeding into your skin. For people with
Henoch-Schonlein purpura, the bleeding causes a purplish skin
rash (purpura) that can last up to several weeks. Although
Henoch-Schonlein purpura can affect anyone, it's most common in
children ages 2 to 11, with 5 to 7 being the ages at which it's
most likely to occur. It's the most common vasculitis that
occurs in children. Boys are more likely to develop the
condition than girls are, and it occurs less frequently in
blacks than it does in whites or Asians. In most cases, Henoch-
Schonlein purpura improves on its own within four to six weeks.
Medications may ease discomfort from some of the signs and
symptoms of Henoch-Schonlein purpura.