Vasculitis: Symptoms and Signs in Adults and Children

Vasculitis is not a single disease but a whole group of conditions in which blood vessels become inflamed: arteries, veins, and capillaries. Inflammation narrows the vessel lumen and sometimes blocks it entirely, so the organs it supplies begin to suffer. Understanding the symptoms is easier if you keep one analogy in mind: imagine a plumbing system where pipes suddenly narrow from the inside or swell and leak.

What vasculitis is and why it develops

Normally the immune system attacks foreign cells, but in vasculitis it mistakenly attacks the body's own vessels. Such a failure can be triggered by an infection, another disease, or a medication, although often the cause remains unknown. An inflamed vessel either narrows, closes completely, or stretches and weakens to the point of bulging — an aneurysm, whose rupture is dangerous because of internal bleeding. A distinction is made between primary vasculitides, in which inflammation begins in the vessels themselves, and secondary ones — as a reaction to another disease.

Common symptoms of systemic vasculitis

In systemic vascular inflammation, fever, swelling, and a general feeling of malaise most often appear. The picture then depends on which organs are affected: skin, kidneys, lungs, nerves, or heart. That is why it is difficult to recognize vasculitis by a single sign.

• unexplained fever and night sweats;
• a rash resembling small bruises or red-purple spots;
• muscle and joint pain, joint stiffness;
• loss of appetite and effortless weight loss;
• numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs.

Symptoms of vasculitis in adults

Different forms occur in adults. Temporal (giant cell) arteritis affects the temporal arteries, usually after age 50: the temples hurt, headache occurs, pain in the jaw muscles while eating, double vision, or vision loss. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis involves the vessels of the nose, sinuses, ears, lungs, and kidneys and causes fever, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, and blood when coughing. Microscopic polyangiitis more often develops in middle-aged people and manifests as a rash, shortness of breath, red eyes, tingling, and kidney problems. Polyarteritis nodosa affects the arteries of the intestines, kidneys, and nerves, causing abdominal pain after eating and intestinal ulcers.

Signs of vasculitis in children

In children, immunoglobulin A vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) is common: a rash in the form of small bruises or red-purple spots, joint and abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the urine or stool. It is usually not dangerous and often resolves without treatment. Kawasaki disease occurs in children under 5 years of age: fever persists for 5 days or longer, and a rash, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, dry cracked lips, red fingers, and red eyes appear.

How autoimmune vasculitis manifests and why it is dangerous

Autoimmune vasculitis is precisely an attack by the immune system on the body's own vessels. The danger is that inflammation can lead to organ failure: without treatment, granulomatosis with polyangiitis can result in organ failure, and temporal arteritis can result in stroke and blindness. The doctor assesses the complaints, examines the skin and vessels, and orders blood tests (ESR, CRP, ANCA) and vascular imaging — CT or MR angiography.

When to see a doctor

With an unexplained rash, fever, weakness, or joint pain, it is reasonable to see a doctor, who will assess the symptoms and decide whether an examination is needed.

This in itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103 or 112 — if double vision or vision loss occurs in temporal arteritis, with hemoptysis, severe abdominal pain, signs of stroke, or internal bleeding.

This article is for reference: it helps to notice signs but does not replace a consultation with a doctor, who will sort out your specific situation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer