Factitious purpura in a 10-year-old girl.
We describe a 10-year-old girl who presented with bizarre purpura. Both congenital and autoimmune hemorrhagic disorders were excluded based on her past medical history and physical and laboratory findings. Child abuse was also ruled out as purpura continued to develop after child-family separation. Histologic examination of the skin lesions revealed disruption of collagen fiber bundles. This finding indicated application of external force, leading to a definitive diagnosis of factitious purpura. Although it is very rare in school-age children, the diagnosis of factitious purpura should be included in the differential diagnosis of purpura in children. Histologic analysis of skin biopsies may aid in establishing the diagnosis.
Yamada
Kayo
K
Department of Pediatrics, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Japan.
Sakurai
Yoshihiko
Y
Shibata
Mari
M
Miyagawa
Sachiko
S
Yoshioka
Akira
A
D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications