Epidemiology


Etiology

  • Common triggers
    • Antiepileptics: lamotrigine, phenytoin, carbamazepine
    • dapsone, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim; vancomycin, minocycline; sulfonamides
    • allopurinol

Pathophysiology

Delayed hypersensitivity reaction (type IV HSR) to drug metabolites


Clinical features

  • Systemic symptom
    • Fever, typically high (> 38.5°C/101.3°F) and spiking
  • Diffuse rash
    • Typical manifestation: generalized morbilliform pruritic rash
      • The term morbilliform refers to a rash that looks like measles.
  • Signs of internal organ involvement
    • Multiorgan failure

Diagnostics

Eosinophilia, thrombocytopenia, atypical lymphocytes often present


Treatment