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[Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome in children]
Ana Ehrhardt Pinheiro1, Raquel Ferreira, Gonçalo Cordeiro Ferreira
1Unidade de Infecciologia, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Lisboa.
Acta Medica Portuguesa
|August 7, 2010
Summary
Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) is a severe reaction to antiepileptic drugs. Early recognition of fever, rash, and organ involvement is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome, or Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), is a rare, potentially fatal multisystem disorder.
- It is primarily associated with aromatic antiepileptic drugs.
Observation:
- A case report details a child treated with sodium valproate for epilepsy who developed a febrile rash.
- The rash appeared 4 weeks after initiating phenobarbital therapy.
Findings:
- Laboratory tests confirmed leukocytosis with eosinophilia, elevated C-reactive protein, and liver enzymes.
- Phenobarbital was discontinued, leading to a gradual and complete recovery.
Implications:
- DRESS syndrome can mimic other serious conditions like infections, immunologic disorders, or neoplasms, potentially delaying diagnosis.
- Prompt exclusion of DRESS is vital when characteristic clinical features and drug exposure are present in patients.
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