By Angela Cordova

TEN: Very rare and potentially

fatal skin disorder.

First described by Alan Lyell in 1956 as “an eruption resembling scalding of the skin”.

Usually triggered by immunological reaction

Similar symptoms to burn patients.

Caused by immune reaction to:

Drugs taken for the first time (most commonly)▪ Antibiotics (penicillin), Anti-seizure agents, Butazones, and

Sulfonamides

Certain types of infections▪ S. aureus, E.coli

Some vaccinations▪ Polio

Some viruses

New substance in system leads to: Onset of conjunctival burning, itching,

tenderness, fever, cough, sore throat, headache, aches and pains

Followed by rapid onset of rash and blisters involving most of skin and mucous membranes. ▪ Affects mouth, eyes, and, and genitalia more severely.

Large bullae develop and sheets of skin begin to slough off. ▪ In severe cases there is danger to damage to larynx, bronchi,

and esophagus from ulcerations.

Excruciating pain due to rash, blisters, and shedding of skin.▪ Includes eyelashes, fingernails, and toenails.

SKIN STARTS SLOUGHING SKIN COMPLETELY GONE

Affects:

People of all ages.▪ Many times older people due to the increasing amount

of meds taken.

Both genders▪ Women more than men.

People with immuno-compromised systems. ▪ HIV, AIDS, etc.

It is believed that most patients have an abnormal metabolism of drug involved and it leads to a cell-mediated cytotoxic reaction.

▪ Toxic drug metabolites accumulate in skin.▪ Attacks keratinocytes that express a foreign antigen.▪ Believe there is an over expression of tumor necrosis

factor a-(TNF) in epidermis.▪ Leads to apoptosis of epidermis and stimulates

cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.▪ Mimics a hypersensitivity reaction.

Final diagnosis is done by:

▪ Taking tissue samples from the nose, pharynx, and unruptured blisters of those suspected patients.

▪ Samples are then cultured and organism responsible is identified.

Mortality rates are between 10-70% for this condition.

Factors include:▪ Dehydration▪ The initiation of treatment▪ Aggressiveness of treatment▪ Level of care▪ Amount of surface area involved▪ Cancer/hematologic malignancy

• Life-threatening sepsis.

• Severe infection

• Keratoconjuctivitis

• Leads to impaired vision and then blindness

Treatment is similar to that of severe burns

▪ All suspicious meds are discontinued immediately.

▪ Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance to prevent dehydration.

▪ Hydrotherapy to remove skin.▪ Protection of raw skin by topical agents.▪ Systemic antibiotic treatment with

corticosteriods, used with extreme caution.

Cohen, Victor, Jellinek, Samantha, P., Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, Medicine from web.MD, www.emedicine.com, May 2, 2007.

Smeltzer, Suzanne C., Bare, Brenda, Textbook 0f Medical Surgical Nursing, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004