Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)

Severe skin adverse drug reactions can result in death. Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) has the highest mortality (30–35%); Stevens-Johnson syndrome and transitional forms correspond to the same syndrome, but with less extensive skin detachment and a lower mortality (5–15%). Hypersensitivity syndrome, sometimes called Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), has a mortality rate evaluated at about 10%. It is characterised by fever, rash and internal organ involvement. Prompt diagnosis is vital, along with identification and early withdrawal of suspect medicines and avoidance of re-exposure to the responsible agent is essential. Cross-reactivity to structurally-related syndrome caused by Carbamazepine medicines is common, thus first-degree relatives may be predisposed to developing this syndrome. We report a case of DRESS secondary to use of Carbamazepine.