Toxic epidermal necrolysis: a severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction.

ABSTRACT

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare but serious is a rare but potentially lifethreatening condition. It is primarily a cutaneous reaction to various precipitating agents, characterized by wide spread erythema and detachment of the epidermis from the dermis. Among the various cutaneous adverse drug reactions, TEN occupy a primary place in terms of mortality. In TEN large sheets of skin are lost from the body surface, thereby decreasing the protecting function of the skin, which results in complications. Usually, TEN is self-limited in absence of complications. If complicated by sepsis, there will be increased chances of mortality. The main treatment would be cessation of the causative drug and early admission of the patient for supportive care and minimizing the occurrence of complications. The present articles reviews the etiology, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and treatment protocol, with a case of TEN occurrence in a child of 4 years age after consuming phenytoin syrup for febrile convulsions.