Vasculitis
Vasculitis is the inflammation of blood vessels - arteries and smaller vessels. In children the two major causes are Henoch-Schonlein Purpura and Kawasaki’s disease. Henoch-Schonlein Purpura is thought to be an abnormal response to an upper respiratory infection, causing antibodies to attack the walls of capillaries, producing the purpuric rash on the buttocks; joints to produce arthralgia (which means painful joints), and kidneys to produce nephritis (see kidney disorders in the urinary tract section). Kawasaki’s Disease is an abnormal response to a mild infection which causes fever, conjunctivitis, swollen glands and painful hands and fingers - which shed their skin as the disease progresses. In 30% of cases there is aneurysm formation on the coronary arteries, which may rupture and cause death. In the adolescent, as in the adult, vasculitis may occur in association with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosis.
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