A fatal dermatosis in the emergency department: toxic epidermal necrolysis

Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is a life-threatening dermatosis, which are mainly induced by drugs. The mortality rate and incidence of TEN is 20–30% and 0.5–1.2 cases per million population annualy. Drug hypersensitivity is very important in the development of it. Antimicrobials and anticonvulsants are most frequently associated with the development of it. TEN is a disease which acutely starts and has prodromes such as cough lasting 1-3 days, throat ache, burning eyes, arthralgia before the disease. Intraoral erosion is a constant result. Sepsis and respiratory insufficiency were the most important complications in TEN. The main therapy are drugs used by the patient were stopped, systemic corticosteroid and supportive treatment. The aim of our study is recognized of TEN by emergency physicians.