Cutaneous vasculitis such as Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), a systemic small vessel vasculitic syndrome presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because it may be a primary disorder or it may be a cutaneous manifestation of a more ominous disease such as systemic necrotizing vasculitis, connective tissue disease, systemic bacterial infection, or malignancy. HSP is commonly seen in young children and most often follows a mucosal based infection such as an upper respiratory tract infection. We discuss a young boy of established rheumatic heart disease who manifested as HSP about 15 days prior to the clinical manifestations of a left sided infective endocarditis. The rash of HSP showed a spontaneous resolution with the treatment of bacterial endocarditis with antibiotics. Subsequently the child is on penicillin prophylaxis for rheumatic heart disease and asymptomatic for the last 6 months.

Key words: Henoch-Schonlein purpura, infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease.

RCIAPCON 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2006 [cited 15 June 2006(Supplement 6)];3. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
infective_endocarditis_henoch_schonlein.asp