An epidemiological study of Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

AIM

To describe the incidence of hospital admission among children in the Scottish population for Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).

METHOD

The annual, quarterly and monthly incidences of HSP were derived from routinely collected data for Scotland from 1995 to 2007.

RESULTS

Annual incidences of childhood cases of HSP in Scotland ranged from 20.3 to 26.7 per 100,000 of the child population over 1995-2007. Quarterly rates were highest in winter and lowest in summer. Monthly rates were highest in the months between December and March and consistently low in July and August.

CONCLUSION

The annual incidence of childhood HSP in Scotland appears high compared with rates reported in other countries, and the results demonstrate a seasonal pattern. Health professionals should be aware of the symptoms, and of the best treatments and care available. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of this disease, as the aetiology remains unknown and there are no clear evidence-based treatments or interventions.