A Challenging Case of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in a 2 Year Old Child With Review of Literature

Abstract

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare, severe, life-threatening, mucocutaneous adverse drug reaction characterized by widespread blistering and sloughing of the epidermis and mucositis with fatal complications such as sepsis and multiorgan failure. In most cases, drugs are implicated, but occasionally, vaccination and infection can be the triggers of TEN. TEN is very rare in infants and young children and usually has a fatal outcome due to sepsis or multiorgan failure due to large body surface area. Till now, only a few reports have been documented in the literature. We hereby report a challenging case of TEN in a 2-year-old boy who had had a turbulent course during his hospital admission. He was successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin followed by systemic steroid along with high-end systemic antibiotics in a dedicated dermatology intensive care setup taking care of his fluid, electrolytes, calories, protein demand, and care of skin and mucosa.