Heberden first described a boy with purpura with hematuria in 1801, Schonlein described cutaneous purpura and joint manifestations in 1832, Henoch reported gastrointestinal and renal manifestations in 1868 and 1895 respectively. The importance of renal manifestations in allergic purpura was confirmed by Osler in 1895. It is now recognized that the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys are the main organs involved in this disease. The basic lesion is necrotizing small vessel vasculitis with IgA immunoglobulin/complexes deposited in the small vessels of the skin and in the glomerular tethered area and subendothelium. The disease most often occurs in children under 10 years of age and is rare in adults (>20 years). It occurs in the cold season. About 1/3 of patients have a history of bacterial and viral pioneer infections, and about 1/4 are associated with fish and shrimp allergy or prophylactic injections and medications. The majority of patients have a benign, self-limiting course that heals within a few weeks. Approximately 50% of patients have a recurrent course. Nephropathy most often occurs days or weeks after the involvement of other organs throughout the body.