What is Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy?

Discussion The differential diagnosis for acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) is similar to purpura and includes: Vascultitis Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) Drug induced Kawasaki disease Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Trauma induced Infectious Disease Meningococcemia Sepsis Dermatologic Erythema multiforme Gianotti Crosti Hemorrhagic urticaria Sweet’s syndrome Child maltreatment Neonatal lupus Learning Point Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI, also called Seidlmayer or postinfectious cockade purpura, medallion-like purpura, or Finkelstein’s disease) is an uncommon, self-limited cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis that usually affects children 4-24 months. Despite their appearance, the children generally feel well. It usually presents with fever, and 1-5 cm rosette- or cockade-shaped hemorrhagic purpuric lesions especially of the lower extremities, buttocks, ear, eye and face. Edema, often painful, of these same areas occurs. The skin changes have rapid onset and the coloring may evolve from red/purple to brown/yellow as the blood in the lesions is degraded. The lesions may spread to other body areas such as the upper trunk but this occurs later in the disease course. Mucous membranes are spared and visceral involvement is rare. Laboratory evaluation is basically negative including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, urine, stool, ASO titre, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and infectious disease’s serologies. Mild l...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news