Toxic epidermal necrolysis complicated with respiratory failure in children: A case report

Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a severe skin and mucosal reaction that develops rapidly and has a high mortality rate. Its early identification and proper treatment are crucial to lowering the risk of death. Severe TEN can also lead to acute respiratory failure. This study probed the effect of early treatment on chronic airway damage in children with TEN complicated by respiratory failure. Three children diagnosed with TEN complicated by respiratory failure received interventions including high-dose glucocorticoids, gamma-globulin pulse therapy, and plasma exchange. One patient experienced recurrent lung infections, developed secondary chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and eventually succumbed to respiratory failure despite skin improvement. The other two patients showed improvement after receiving combination treatment with a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitor. However, they also had concurrent chronic airway disease during the follow-up period. The exact mechanism underlying TEN remains uncertain. Children with TEN complicated by respiratory failure continue to experience chronic airway damage even after standard treatment. In future, multi-center clinical studies are warranted to investigate the impact of TNF-α inhibitors in children with TEN. Assessing the effectiveness and safety of targeted medications for TEN will provide more evidence regarding the prognosis of this disease.