DRESS Syndrome (Drug Related Eosinophilia) - Causes, Pathophysiology, Signs and Symptoms, Treatment

DRESS Syndrome which stands for drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome is a are, potentially life-threatening, drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction that occurs 2-6 weeks of commencing a new drug. It is characterised by skin eruption looking like a morbilliform rash, haematologic abnormalities such as atypical lymphocytosis, eosinophilia and internal organ involvement: lung, liver and kidney. The pathogenesis involve a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to a drug and is more characteristic of a TYPE IV reaction where T cells play an important role. There is also evidence of reactivation of dormant viruses during the infection such as EBV and HHV6 and HHV7.