Austin Health

Title
Red herring in returned traveler: drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptom (DRESS) syndrome mimicking sepsis.
Publication Date
2014-08-28
Author(s)
Lim, Hui Yin
Huang, Gene Khai Lin
Torresi, Joseph
Johnson, Douglas F
Type of document
Journal Article
OrcId
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DOI
10.1111/jtm.12152
Abstract
We report a case of a 51-year-old Han Chinese recently returned traveler, who was admitted with a generalized maculopapular rash, fevers, shock, and multi-organ failure. Extensive investigations failed to reveal an infective cause. Skin biopsy findings together with the recent commencement of allopurinol raised a diagnosis of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptom syndrome. High-dose prednisolone was commenced and the patient made a rapid recovery. This case highlights that not all sepsis-like presentations in returned travelers are due to infective causes and that severe drug reactions need to be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Link
Citation
Journal of Travel Medicine 2014; 21(6): 425-8
Jornal Title
Journal of Travel Medicine

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