ISSN: 2161-0533
Salem Bouomrani and Moez Ben Ayed
Introduction: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is the most common systemic vasculitis in children. The etiology of HSP is still unknown; although various factors have been implicated in the precipitation of the disease such as viruses, group A streptococci, drugs, vaccines, and cancers. Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections are exceptionally found at the origin of this angiitis. We report an original case of HSP complicating acute osteomyelitis of the left femur to SA.
Case report: A 15-year-old child was hospitalized for vascular purpura of the lower and upper limbs, associated with diffuse abdominal pain and inflammatory polyarthritis, occurring four weeks after treatment of acute osteomyelitis to SA of the left femoral neck, complicated by coxofemoral arthritis and abscess of the left thigh. Biological, radiological, and histological investigations led to the diagnosis of HSP without renal involvement. The patient was treated with systemic corticosteroid therapy with a good outcome.
Conclusion: Staphylococcal infection is exceptionally found at the origin of HSP. To our knowledge, only two cases of HSP complicating SA osteomyelitis have been reported previously in the world literature.