- Last Wednesday: I pick Colin up from school to find him limping and crying. As I carry him to the car, he tells me that his left knee really really hurts. When we get home, I see that it is swollen. No redness or warmness, just very puffy. He says he didn't fall or hurt it at school. Soon he starts complaining that his stomach hurts. At around 5 pm he throws up. He has no fever. I start googling and of course fear something like bone cancer. He goes to bed but is awake off and on from 10-2 saying his stomach really hurts. When Chad gives him ibuprofen it seems to help and he sleeps better.
- Thursday: When he wakes up in the morning, Colin is no longer in pain and the swelling in his knee is gone. I curse myself for not taking a picture (c'mon Katie!!) - I have nothing to show the doctor! His pediatrician isn't in the office, so we see another one. Like I said, there is nothing to show him. The Dr. does a strep test, which, not surprisingly, comes back negative, and sends us on our merry way. That night, I notice a rash on his legs, below the knees. It looks like red pin-pricks. I now have something new to google.
- I come across information about Henoch–Schönlein purpura or HSP "Classically, HSP causes skin rash, pain in the abdomen, and joint inflammation (arthritis). Not all features need be present for the diagnosis. The rash of skin lesions appears in gravity-dependent areas, such as the legs. The joints most frequently affected with pain and swelling are the ankles and the knees" This sounds exactly like what Colin is experiencing.
- Friday: The rash is barely noticeable in the morning. I don't want to go back to the same Dr, and Colin is feeling fine, so he goes back to school. When he comes home, he periodically complains of stomach pains, headaches, and backaches, especially at night.
- Same Saturday and Sunday. Lots of aches. The rash remains but is much more mild than any pictures I have seen of Henoch–Schönlein purpura. I think to take a picture this time.
- Today: Take him to his pediatrician, Dr. Smoak. I LOVE him. He diagnoses it as Henoch–Schönlein purpura without me ever mentioning it. I am so relieved. The mystery is solved. The Dr. orders some blood work (which almost makes Colin faint. Who knew my boy was queasy about that stuff?) and a urine sample to make sure it isn't something else, and both come back clean.
Colin will probably be dealing with this for the next three or four weeks. He will most likely just continue to have the rash and aches and pains. He is not contagious. It can occasionally cause more serious problems if the kidneys become inflammed, so we will be bringing urine samples in weekly. We will just be praying that it follows the more typical path and doesn't become serious.
March 12 in the evening - day 2 of the rash
March 16
March 17, almost a week after his knee first became swollen
Very appetizing right above pictures of the cake, huh?
I have been so worried about figuring this out for the last few days that until it was diagnosed today, I confess that I hadn't thought much about how hard it must be for Colin to experience it all. I know that when I am in pain and not feeling physically well, well...it's just hard to be cheerful and everything that goes wrong is much harder to deal with. He has remained pretty happy and active and Colin-like. He is such a good kid.
March 12 in the evening - day 2 of the rash
March 16
March 17, almost a week after his knee first became swollen
Very appetizing right above pictures of the cake, huh?
