Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI): Alarming cutaneous presentation of a benign and self‐limited disease

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) is a benign and rare presentation of leukocytoclastic vasculitis that usually affects children between 4 months and 24 months of age. It is characterized by purpuric and ecchymotic lesions that mainly involve the distal extremities, the face, and the ears. It usually follows some viral or bacterial infection. Here, we report a case of a 25-month-old male child who presented with mild grade fever and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. Subsequently, he developed progressive purpuric and ecchymotic lesions over his body, mainly on his lower limbs and face. Laboratory tests were done, showing elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate with rest of normal results. In view of patients having respiratory symptoms, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of a nasopharyngeal swab for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was done, which came out to be positive. The baby received supportive care only. He gradually improved and was discharged successfully. AHEI may be a possible after effect of COVID-19 infection.

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Una “vistosa” vasculite con edema, che riguarda gli arti e il viso e risparmia il tronco

Marchetti,

Izzo,

Graziani

et al. 2023

Medico E Bambino

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Acute haemorrhagic oedema of infancy (AHEI) is a small vessel vasculitis that affects boys between 4 months and 2 years. It presents with a characteristic purpuric skin rash but with marked bruising and “typical” localizations in auricles and is often accompanied by oedema of face and extremities. It is typically post-infectious, especially after infections of the upper respiratory tract and rarely can be associated with gastrointestinal, renal, articular or testicular complications. The paper reports the case of a 2-year-and-5-month-old boy who, 5 days after the resolution of a febrile infection of the upper airways (with subsequent detection of positive IgM and IgG serology for SARS-Cov-2), presented with a rash with ecchymotic/purpuric lesions in his lower limbs, face and auricles associated with intense arthralgia, arthritis of a knee and deterioration of general conditions. The diagnosis of acute infantile haemorrhagic oedema was clear but the clinical presentation required an “important” therapeutic approach with intravenous steroids and an infusion of immunoglobulins.

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Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI): Alarming cutaneous presentation of a benign and self‐limited disease

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Unraveling acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy in the COVID-19 era: Insights from a tribal area in Jharkhand

Una “vistosa” vasculite con edema, che riguarda gli arti e il viso e risparmia il tronco

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