[DRESS syndrome in a patient with cystic fibrosis: a pediatric case report]

Abstract

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms or DRESS syndrome is among severe cutaneous drug reactions. This constitutes a clinical triad that includes fever, skin rash and systemic compromise, accompanied by eosinophilia and/ or atypical lymphocytes. We present the case of an 18-month-old female patient with cystic fibrosis, who develops this pathology during a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole cycle as an eradicating treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in bronchial secretions. Cystic fibrosis patients receive multiple antibiotic regimens according to bacteriology in sputum, to avoid impairment in their lung function and colonization by resistant germs. Due to the increased risk of drug hypersensitivity in cystic fibrosis, an ominous prognosis and high morbidity and mortality, knowledge and a high index of suspicion of this syndrome are necessary.

Keywords: cystic fibrosis; drug hypersensitivity syndrome; drug-related side effects and adverse reactions; pediatrics; sulfamethoxazole drug combination; trimethoprim.