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.