A 4 year old female was admitted to the hospital directly from her pediatricians office because of symmetrical raised red skin lesions over 20 percent of her body.

A 4 year old female was admitted to the hospital directly from her pediatricians office because of symmetrical raised red skin lesions over 20 percent of her body. she also has edema of her upper a lower eyelids. The child had been treated with a penicillin type drug for an upper respiratory infection and it was suspected the child was having a reaction to that drug. A pediatric infectious disease specialist examined the patient immediately. After reviewing laboratory results, the consultant concluded the patient had Steven’s Johnson syndrome, which is a toxic epidermal necrolysis that produces skin lesions seen on this child. The consulted attributed the edema of the eyelids to the same syndrome. The patient received a four-day treatment of intravenous immunoglobulin drugs through a peripheral vein and made an excellent recovery. The consultant stated the 20 percent to 25 percent exfoliation of her skin surface caused by the Stevens-Johnson syndrome was an adverse effect of the penicillin this child received for the respiratory infection. The child was discharged home to her parent’s care with pediatric home health nursing follow-up.