According to Medicine Plus (site2 tab) porphyria causes three major symptoms:
- Abdominal pain or cramping (only in some forms of the disease)
- Sensitivity to light that can cause rashes, blistering, and scarring of the skin
- Problems with the nervous system and muscles (seizures, mental disturbances, nerve damage)
Porphyria occurs in attacks. When a person experience a porphyria attack it starts out with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. Being out in the sun can bring on a attack and can cause blisters and rashes on the skin. These heal slowly and the scarring can be very severe. Urine can turn red or brown after an attack has occurred. An attack can be life threatening because it can cause low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalance and shock (site2 tab).