ORAL MANAGEMENT OF TOXIC EPIDERMAL NECROLYSIS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENT

Abstract

The aim of this study is to report a severe case of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in a pediatric patient. A 5-year-old female patient was referred to the dental service with a diagnosis of TEN. On physical examination, the patient presented scaling skin lesions over the entire body surface. She was also on parenteral nutrition. On oral examination, severe pain and ulcerative lesions with hemorrhagic crust in the lips and erosive, rounded lesions with a white halo, similar to a target, on the tongue and labial mucosa were observed. After low-level laser therapy (LLLT), there was improvement in pain and healing of oral lesions and the patient returned to eating without the tube. One month later, the oral lesions were fully healed. LLLT was effective for oral lesions associated with TEN, accelerating clinical improvement and the return of enteral feeding, attenuating the patient's hospital stay.