Toxic epidermal necrolysis due to antiepileptic therapy in an 8-year-old boy

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) has rarely been documented in children. We treated an 8-year-old boy who developed generalized blistering dermatosis after anticonvulsive therapy with diphenylhydantoin. The diagnosis was proved by exfoliative cytology, histology, and electron microscopy. The disease entity and its differentiation from staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome and toxic shock syndrome are reviewed.