User:Mr. Ibrahem/Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a type of severe reaction to certain medications. Symptoms may include a rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, blood abnormalities (high eosinophils, atypical lymphocytes), and organ inflammation. Onset is typically two to three weeks after medication exposure and symptoms generally last for weeks. Complications may include reactivation of human herpes viruses and autoimmune diseases.

Medications that may result in this condition include allopurinol, anticonvulsants, sulfonamides, and antibiotics. Occasionally other medications may be involved and in some cases the cause remains unclear. Risk factors include genetics. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and supported by laboratory tests. It is a form of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), along with Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP).

Screening of populations at high risk of a certain HLA type is recommended before using carbamazapine, with such use avoided if they test positive to prevent DRESS. Treatment consists of stopping the offending medication and providing supportive care. While systemic corticosteroids may be used in significant disease; there is a lack of high quality evidence for such use. While most fully recover over weeks to months, the risk of death is about 10%.

DRESS syndrome is rare, affecting about 1 in 100,000 people a year. Of those who take an anticonvulsant, about 1 in 10,000 are affected. Males and females are affected with similar frequency. The current term came into use in 1996; though the condition was known by various other names since first described in the 1940s.