Severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs - Relevant aspects to diagnosis and treatment - Part I: Anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions, erythroderma and the clinical spectrum of Stevens-Johnson syndrome & toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's disease)

Abstract

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs (SCARD) generally require hospitalization, and at times in the intensive therapy or burn care unit for observation of the vital signs and the viscera function. The aim of this study is to describe these reactions in order to facilitate recognition and treatment. This group of drug reactions includes anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and, depending on the systemic involvement, erythroderma. In this article we approach the characteristics and treatment of some adverse reactions to drugs: anaphylaxis, erythroderma, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).