Sulthiame-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome

Pediatric drug eruptions

Drug eruptions in children are common but in general less studied than their adult counterparts. Aside from having significant impact on the child's health and quality of life, these reactions can limit what medications the patient can receive in the future. Familiarity with pediatric drug eruptions is important for accurate diagnosis and to prevent future recurrence or ineffective therapy. Our current understanding of how drug reactions differ mechanistically between children and adults is poor. There are multiple factors that could be contributing to the differing incidence, presentation, and treatment modalities offered to pediatric versus adult patients. For many of these cutaneous drug reactions, the treatment regime is not standardized, being based primarily on case reports. Although not comprehensive, this review highlights common pediatric drug eruption patterns and discuss diagnostic mimickers. Five cutaneous adverse drug reactions in the pediatric population are presented: morbilliform (exanthematous) eruptions, urticarial eruptions, serum sickness-like reactions, fixed drug eruptions, and DRESS syndrome. Clinical features, diagnostic workup, and management are discussed with an emphasis on the pediatric population.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms: Pediatric case series and literature review

BACKGROUND

Pediatric Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is an uncommon disease that can be difficult to diagnose. This case series and literature review highlights the clinical features of pediatric DRESS and underscores the differential diagnoses, culprit medications, and need for clinical follow-up to detect associated autoimmune sequelae.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and laboratory features of pediatric DRESS, identify associated culprit medications, and discuss the natural history of disease.

METHODS

Ten cases of pediatric DRESS were identified in the electronic medical record by searching the inpatient dermatology consultation list at Indiana University between 2013 and 2018. Clinical and laboratory data were collected including demographics, differential diagnoses, culprit medications, resolution of disease, and autoimmune sequelae.

RESULTS

Pediatric patients with DRESS presented at a mean age of 11.5 years and demonstrated a mean time from drug initiation to onset of symptoms of 4 weeks. The most common inciting drugs included antibiotics (62.5%) followed by antiepileptics (37.5%). Rash and transaminitis resolved by 3 weeks, and 20% of patients, all female, developed autoimmune sequelae including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and an undifferentiated connective tissue disorder and occurred at an average of 14.5 weeks after diagnosis.

LIMITATIONS

This was a small retrospective study of an uncommon clinical diagnosis at a single institution.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric DRESS was most commonly caused by antibiotics which are being increasingly recognized in the literature as the predominant culprit medications. The development of autoimmune sequelae is a notable consequence that can present weeks after illness and may preferentially affect female patients.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) in children

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) is a severe reaction to drugs. Incidence of DRESS in children is not well known and the mortality rate seems to be lower than 10%. Anticonvulsants are the main drugs involved both in adults and in children. The treatment of choice is intravenous immunoglobulins and corticosteroids used in synergy. Today there are not controlled clinical trials regarding DRESS treatment in children. Anyway, the prompt withdrawn of the offending drug is of paramount importance for a better prognosis. DRESS sequels may occur, consequently, follow-up visits are required at least until the first year after the reaction. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome in two young children: the importance of an early diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a serious life-treating condition characterized by skin eruption, fever, haematologic abnormalities, and multi-organ involvement that can be fatal if unrecognized, especially in patients with liver failure. Diagnosis may be difficult because it is rarely described in children and can mimic many different conditions.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report two cases of DRESS syndrome due to prolonged antibiotic treatment in young children in whom recovery occurred following different therapeutic approaches. A previously healthy 5-year-old boy had been receiving intravenous vancomycin for right wrist and left elbow osteomyelitis and developed DRESS syndrome on day 30. The patient achieved a complete resolution of all symptoms with pulse methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisone. A 4-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, chronic pulmonary colonization by Gram-positive bacteria admitted for pulmonary exacerbation was treated with intravenous piperacillin-tazobactam and tobramycin. After 14 days of treatment, she developed DRESS syndrome: antibiotic treatment was therefore stopped, and without any further therapy, a progressive resolution of the patient's clinical features was observed within 7 days, while the normalization of laboratory abnormalities was achieved at 14 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Our cases highlight that paediatricians should be aware of the clinical presentations of and therapeutic approaches for DRESS syndrome, especially in children receiving long-term antibiotic treatment. The removal of the offending drug is crucial and may be the only life-saving measure. In more aggressive cases, corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive drugs should be considered to achieve the best outcome.