Reactions 1478, p13 - 16 Nov 2013

SCarbamazepine

Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a child: case reportA 9-year-old girl developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome

following treatment with carbamazepine [Tegretol] forepisodic headaches.

The girl was hospitalised with fever, cough and generalisedskin eruption; the fever developed 3 weeks aftercarbamazepine was initiated for severe episodic headaches[route and dosage not stated]. She reported progressivedysphagia, photophobia and dysuria; agitation was noted.Pyrexia, significant conjunctivitis and small vesicles located tooral and nasal mucosa were noted, on examination. Anerythematous eruption coalesced predominantly on the trunkwith numerous vesicles and a few necrotic lesions; vesicleswere also noted on her genitalia. Her total WBC count was11 × 109/L with a CRP value of 31 mg/L; mild elevation ofserum transaminases were also noted.

Carbamazepine was discontinued; supportive therapy wasinitiated, and dexamethasone and cefazoline wereadministered. The girl stabilised after approximately 48 hours,and she returned home after 15 days with instructions to avoidfuture carbamazepine treatment.

Author comment: "Antiepileptics such as phenytoin,phenobarbital, and carbamazepine play an important role inthe development of drug-induced serious skin reactions suchas SJS [Stevens-Johnson syndrome] and TEN."Muci M, et al. Stevens-Johnson syndrome: Case report. Paediatria Croatica 57:268-270, No. 3, Sep 2013 - Albania 803095588

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Reactions 16 Nov 2013 No. 14780114-9954/13/1478-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2013 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved