Albendazole and Stevens–Johnson syndrome: A cause

Abstract

Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) represent severe reactions in the skin and the mucous membranes, most commonly caused by drugs. An adult female developed erythematous and dusky red lesions over the body 5 days after oral albendazole. Atypical target lesions sparing the scalp were seen on day 2 of admission with positive Nikolsky sign. A clinical diagnosis of SJS (with 12.1% predicted mortality) was made which correlated with biopsy. The patient responded well to intravenous dexamethasone and oral cyclosporine. The report highlights the drug, albendazole, as a sole factor causing SJS/TEN and warrants further evaluation and subsequently control measures.

Keywords

• albendazole
• drug reaction
• stevens–johnson syndrome