Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy: a rare case report from Syria

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) is a rare leukocytoclastic vasculitis clinically characterized by the classic triad (palpable purpuric skin lesions, edema, and fever) and is commonly misdiagnosed as Henoch-Schönlein purpura. AHEI frequently occurs after infections, drug treatment, or vaccination, even though its etiology is undetermined. Besides having a sudden onset, AHEI is also characterized by a self-limiting course with complete and spontaneous recovery within 1-3 weeks.

We report a rare case of a 1-year-old Syrian infant who presented to the clinic with an abnormal rash covering his entire body following a viral respiratory infection. On physical examination, he had many purpuric lesions across his body, and laboratory tests revealed that they were within the normal range. AHEI was determined based on clinical evaluation and laboratory analysis.

The authors focus on this entity as a differential diagnosis of his Henoch-Schönlein purpura. To prevent potentially serious complications, doctors should recognize purpura lesions in children exposed to respiratory infections, which received particular drugs or were given vaccinations. Furthermore, there is no danger associated with this disease, and it is benign.