Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate preceding triggers of Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) in children and to evaluate the difference of clinical features and outcomes of HSP according to triggering factors including infection and vaccination. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 461 HSP patients under the age of 19 years who were diagnosed at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between January 2004 and December 2013. We categorized the subjects into the 3 groups according to preceding triggers; 1) vaccination group (n = 14); 2) infection group (n =105); and 3) no preceding trigger group (n = 149). We analyzed demographic data, vaccination history, clinical features, and laboratory tests indicating inflammation, standard and activated coagulation in all subjects recruited. Results: Of total 461 children with HSP (243 boys, 218 girls, mean age 7.1 years), 14 (3.0 %) cases of HSP had preceding vaccination history within 2 weeks before disease onset; influenza vaccination in 5 cases; MMR vaccination in 3 cases; DPT/IPV vaccination in 2 cases; JEV vaccination in 2 cases; yellow fever/typhoid fever vaccination in 1 case; and MMR/DPT/IPV vaccination in 1 case. Of 461 children, 105 (22.8%) had preceding infections; upper respiratory infection in 90 (85.7%) cases; acute gastroenteritis in 8 (7.6%) cases; chicken pox in 2 cases; hand-foot-mouth disease in one case; impetigo in one case; and unknown origin of infection in 3 (2.9%) cases. There were no significant differences in age and sex between the vaccination group and the infection group. The vaccination group showed significantly longer hospital day (p = 0.002), lower rate of skin involvement at initial diagnosis (p = 0.009), and higher serum levels of FDPs (fibrin degradation products) (p = 0.037) than the infection group. Conclusion: Vaccination is a relatively rare cause triggering the onset of HSP in children. However, preceding vaccination within 2 weeks of disease onset can influence clinical features and outcomes of the disease. Therefore, through history taking on preceding triggers including infection and vaccination as well may help better understanding of childhood HSP.