ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 28-year-old female. A 28-year-old female was admitted to hospital with viral encephalitis. During her illness she developed a saggital sinus thrombosis and resultant epilepsy. The patient’s face and ears are erythematous with marked oedema; elsewhere she has a widespread maculopapular eruption. This patient was diagnosed with a drug hypersensitivity syndrome called drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). The symptoms and signs of DRESS may be misdiagnosed as an ongoing infection as patients having a swinging temperature, malaise, lymphadenopathy, a skin rash and eosinophilia. The most common drugs implicated in DRESS include antibiotics and anticonvulsants. DRESS usually occurs within 8–12 weeks after commencing the culprit drug. The hepatitis may not settle for several weeks, and may even deteriorate further before settling.
