Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome after carbamazepine administration in a young girl

Abstract EN

Anticonvulsant Hypersensitivity Syndrome (AHS) is a rare, life-threatening clinical condition that occurs secondary to drug reaction and typically associated with antiepileptic medications.

The clinical findings of AHS include a classical triad of fever, cutaneous eruption and multi-organ impairment.

We report a nine-year-old girl who presented with high-grade of fever, maculopapular skin rash and liver enzymes impairment two weeks after receiving carbamazepine for her first episode of seizure activity.

The diagnosis of AHS was made based on the patient clinical triad and after excluding other differential diagnoses.

The patient’s clinical condition was completely resolved and her liver function tests returned to normal two weeks after discontinuation of carbamazepine which was replaced by levetiracetam.

The aim of reporting this case was to provide insight into the symptomology and early diagnosis of AHS to prevent mortality and long-term serious complications.