How should children with purpura diet?

Patient's question:

My son was diagnosed with joint purpura six weeks ago. After hormone treatment, his joint symptoms have disappeared, but the skin purpura has recurred. Allergy tests did not show any allergies. We are currently following a vegetarian diet. What other dietary and lifestyle precautions should we take? How long should we continue this vegetarian diet?

Doctor's answer:

Hello: According to the child's condition, the following precautions should be noted:
1. Rest and avoid fatigue, emotional fluctuations, and mental stress. Prevent insect bites. Remove possible allergens.
2. Pay attention to keeping warm to prevent colds. Control and prevent infections. Use sensitive antibiotics when there is clear infection or an infection focus, but avoid indiscriminate prophylactic use of antibiotics.
4. Pay attention to diet. Since allergic purpura is often caused by allergens, avoid foods such as raw onions, raw garlic, chili peppers, and alcohol. Avoid contact with meats, seafood, and allergens like pollen.
5. To prevent recurrence, patients should adhere to a consolidation treatment course after recovery.
This condition is often self-limiting and generally improves within 6–8 weeks, with a good prognosis. However, some cases may recur for several years. In cases with kidney involvement, most patients recover, while a few may develop chronic nephritis. Very few may die from acute renal failure.
Treating allergic purpura involves eliminating triggers, and it is important to avoid prolonged or high-dose injections or oral administration of corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, Kenacort, or prednisone. Although corticosteroids can quickly improve or resolve the condition, they may cause a rebound effect after discontinuation, leading to worsening symptoms. Prolonged use of high-dose glucocorticoids may also cause side effects such as obesity, hirsutism, acne, elevated blood sugar, hypertension, sodium retention, edema, hypokalemia, menstrual disorders, osteoporosis, aseptic osteonecrosis, and gastric and duodenal ulcers.