Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms in Children: A Prospective Study

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe adverse drug reaction that can affect any age group. We carried out a prospective study of the clinicoepidemiologic aspects of DRESS in children. We prospectively studied all patients ages 12 years and younger admitted to the departments of pediatrics and dermatology at a tertiary care hospital over a 3-year period with probable or definite DRESS, defined based on the RegiSCAR scoring system. A total of 11 patients were studied. Lamotrigine (four patients) and pencillins (three patients) were the most common offending drugs. Not adhering to the standard guidelines of introduction and gradual titration of lamotrigine to therapeutic dose may have increased the chance of lamotrigine-induced DRESS. A short latent period between the onset of drug intake and drug reaction was noted in DRESS induced by antibiotics.