Toxic epidermal necrolysis caused by fluconazole in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but serious dermatologic disorders. These grave conditions present as medical emergency, requiring prompt diagnosis and management. These are often drug induced and various groups of drugs, such as sulfa drugs, NSAIDS, etc., have been implicated as to cause TEN. Fluconazole is a commonly used drug with mild side effects. TEN caused by fluconazole is rare, and till now only few cases have been reported in the literature. We present a case of TEN in a human immunodeficiency virus infected man following fluconazole therapy in view of its rare occurrence.

Keywords: Fluconazole; HIV infection; toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Figure 1

Photograph of a patient showing erythematous lesions over face with sloughing of skin.