Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy: a case report

A 12-month-old male presented with edematous purpuric plaques on the extremities (including the palms and soles), and violaceous targetoid macules on the hard palate and earlobes. The patient had an upper respiratory infection and conjunctivitis 10 days prior to the development of the skin lesions, and was vaccinated 3 weeks before this presentation. He was found to have increased IgA levels and increased ESR. Skin biopsies demonstrated leukocytoclastic vasculitis and IgA granular deposition on superficial dermal vessels. These findings are characteristic of acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy, an entity that must be distinguished from other leukocytoclastic vasculitis, especially Henoch-Schönlein purpura.