Abstract
Background: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)/ Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is the spectrum of severe, acute, mucocutaneous, Ig E mediated hypersensitivity reaction; universally related to different drugs. Phenobarbitone is known to cause hypersensitivity reactions with benign pattern; ranging from a mild to moderate rashes but not life-threatening reactions such as TEN/SJS. Little is known about TEN in asthmatic patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of Phenobarbitone-induced TEN in a young asthmatic patient from the sub Saharan African. Case report: We report a 14-year-old right handed asthmatic male patient who presented with extensive blister skin eruptions involving the whole body including mouth ear canal later followed by skin exfoliation associated with low grade fever, sore throat, and dysphagia. The hypersensitivity skin reaction developed two weeks after initiation of Phenobarbitone of 100mg twice daily for a new onset generalized tonic clonic seizure. The exfoliation also involved oral and Conjunctival mucosa; with estimated 65% body surface area involvement; hence the diagnosis of Toxic epidermal necrosis was made. The Laboratory investigations were relevant for mild leucocytosis, prolonged prothrombin time, and reduced albumin. Phenobarbitone was discontinued and replaced with clonazepam; and the patient was managed with fluids replacement, IV antibiotics, twice daily wound care, analgesics, and naso gastric tube feeding. On subsequent days in intensive care unit (ICU), the patients’ clinical condition started improving; the skin lesion also started to heal and exfoliate in most of the affected skin surface areas, and the patient was discharges improved after ten days of ICU care.Conclusion: In summary, the present case describes, a 14-years-old young child with history of allergy in a form of asthma and new onset seizure disorder; and developed toxic epidermal necrosis following exposure to Phenobarbitone. This case also highlighted the benign prognosis observed in paediatrics population with TEN.
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