Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Teaching Points

  • Potentially life-threatening, drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction
  • Presents with fever, malaise, skin eruption, hematologic abnormalities (eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytosis), lymphadenopathy, and internal organ involvement (liver, kidney, lung)
  • Management is withdrawal of offending drug, topical or oral/IV glucocorticoids (if severe disease)

PowerPoint: Daily Report 8-8-2016

Further Reading
The Generalized Rash Part I. Differential Diagnosis
The Generalized Rash Part II. Diagnostic Approach