Rationale: Dapsone is used for treating infectious and immunological disorders, but it may cause dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS), a serious concern for medical staff. However, in non-leprotic patients, the manifestations of DHS can be atypical and various, leading to diagnostic challenges and potential delays in treatment initiation, which requires attention.
Patient concerns: A 17-year-old Chinese male developed DHS after 3-week dapsone treatment for vasculitis, showing the risk of dapsone use in young patients.
Diagnosis: DHS symptoms include fever, rash, and lymphadenopathy, which can be life-threatening. Diagnosis for this patient was based on symptom recognition, medical history review, physical examination, and the link between dapsone intake and symptom onset.
Interventions: Once diagnosed, dapsone was withdrawn immediately. Corticosteroids were given to reduce inflammation, and antipyretics and anti-histamines were used for symptom relief.
Outcomes: After treatment, the patient improved. Fever subsided quickly, the rash resolved in a week, and lymphadenopathy shrank. Follow-up showed full recovery with no symptom recurrence.
Lessons: This report details a case and reviews published cases of DHS. Summarizing their features aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and management strategies, thus helping healthcare providers handle similar cases better.
}, year = {2025}, journal = {Medicine}, volume = {104}, publisher = {Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)}, issn = {1536-5964}, url = {https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2025/07040/non_leprosy_related_dapsone_hypersensitivity.66.aspx?context=latestarticles}, doi = {10.1097/md.0000000000043073}, language = {eng}, }