A systemic, serious, and life-threatening disorder characterized by erythematous and necrotic lesions in the skin and mucous membranes that are associated with bullous detachment of the epidermis. The epidermal and mucous membranes detachment leads to sepsis and may be fatal. The lesions appear throughout the body and occupy more than 30% of the body surfaces. It is a hypersensitivity reaction usually caused by drugs (e.g., sulfonamides, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, and antiretroviral drugs).
Symptoms of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
The following features are indicative of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis:
fever
skin blisters
skin peeling
painful skin
red eyes
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Common Causes of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
The following are the most common causes of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis:
use of antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, allopurinol, antimetabolites, antiretroviral drugs, corticosteroids, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants
HIV/AIDS
mutation in HLA-B 1502, HLA-A 3101, HLA-B 5801 genes
Risk Factors for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis:
HIV/AIDS
systemic lupus erythematosus
mutation in HLA-B 1502, HLA-A 3101, HLA-B 5801 genes
Prevention of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
genetic testing before taking certain drugs
Occurrence of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis cases seen each year worldwide:
Rare between 10K - 50K cases
Common Age Group
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged > 40
Common Gender
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis:
Skin biopsy: To reveal the layer of skin blistering and dead, thickened epithelial tissue
SCORTEN score system: To help physicians assess the severity of illness by scoring system with seven distinct factors
Complications of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis if untreated
Yes, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is left untreated:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Self-care for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis:
discontinuation of use of hypersensitive medicines like antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, allopurinol, antimetabolites, antiretroviral drugs, corticosteroids, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants
Patient Support for Treatment of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
The following actions may help Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis patients:
Join online support groups: Help providing disease related information to patient
Time for Treatment of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
In 1 - 3 months
Is Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Infectious?
Yes, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means: