Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- rash
- mucosal involvement
- Nikolsky's sign
- blisters
Risk factors
- anticonvulsant medicines
- recent infection
- recent antibiotic use
- other medicines
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- AIDS
- radiotherapy
- bone marrow transplantation
- human leukocyte antigen and genetic predisposition
- smallpox vaccination
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- skin biopsy
- blood cultures
- FBC
- glucose
- magnesium
- phosphate
- urea
- bicarbonate
- LFTs
- arterial blood gases and saturation of oxygen
Investigations to consider
- serum electrolytes
- serum creatinine
- direct immunofluorescence
Treatment algorithm
all patients
Contributors
Authors
Areta Kowal-Vern, MD
Adjunct Research Faculty
Arizona Burn Center
Maricopa Integrated Health Systems
Phoenix
AZ
Disclosures
AK-V performs occasional manuscript reviews on various topics for Research Square, Inc. in the US for which she receives a nominal monetary fee.
Peer reviewers
Barbara A. Latenser, MD
Director Burn Unit
Department of Surgery
University of Iowa Hospitals
Iowa City
IA
Disclosures
BAL declares that she has no competing interests.
Tina Palmieri, MD
Assistant Chief of Burns
Shriners Hospital
UC Davis
Sacramento
CA
Disclosures
TP declares that she has no competing interests.
Venkat Gudi, MB BS
Consultant Dermatologist
Department of Dermatology
West Suffolk Hospital
Bury St. Edmunds
UK
Disclosures
VG declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
- Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
- Toxic shock syndrome
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- European guidelines on the use of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in dermatology
- Guidelines for the management of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: an Indian perspective
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