ABSTRACT

Henoch-schönlein purpura (HSP), an anaphylactic vasculitis, is characterized by palpable purpuric rash and collection of immunglobulin A (IgA) around small vessels. Its clinical triad is purpura, arthritis and abdominal pain. Henoch-schönlein purpura usually involves the kidney, gastrointestinal tract, joints and rarely, non-renal genitourinary organs. Except all rare cases that progress to renal failure, HSP is a disease which resolves without any sequelae. Henochschönlein purpura may mimic surgical conditions such as appendicitis and testicular torsion, leading to unnecessary laparotomy and explorations. Herein, we report a case of an 11-year-old boy, diagnosed on the 12th day of HSP and operated on with suspicion of testicular torsion, for which surgical exploration did not reveal any torsion but global necrosis of the testicle.