Sir.—Varicella is a common, usually self-limited contagious disease,1 although several complications have been reported.2,3 Henoch-Schönlein vasculitis (HSV) following varicella was reported only in three cases.4,5 We wish to describe a child with this complication and summarize the characteristics of the reported cases.
Report of a Case.—A 6-month-old male infant was referred to us because of a rash and left ankle swelling of two days' duration. Ten days prior to the admission, he had had a mild disease characterized by a vesicular rash and mild systemic symptoms, which his physician diagnosed as varicella. On physical examination a purpuric rash, with areas of small ecchymoses, was noted over the buttocks and extensor surfaces of both legs. The left ankle joint was swollen and tender. Scattered, crusted lesions of chickenpox were noted over the trunk.
Laboratory examinations showed a sedimentation rate of 55 mm in the first hour,