DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2014.v02i03.028

Pages: 198-200

The appraised incidence of the Stevens-Johnson syndrome ranges between 1.2 and 6 per million populations per year but the mortality rate is 15%. A 14 year old boy from rural area of Kadapa was admitted in the general medicine department with complaints of skin lesions all over the body with involvement of oral lesions since 10 days. He had a history of fever (high grade and not associated with chills) for the past 10 days and was administered inj. Lariago (Chloroquine-64.5 mg/ml) followed by oral chloroquine (Tablets Lariago, Chloroquine phosphate 250 mg, 2 tables stat, 1 tablet after 6 h, 1 O.D. for 1 day) for empirical treatment of malaria by a local physician. After 24 hours, he developed red patches over the abdomen and extremities associated with burning sensation and itching, which was progressed to all over the body. This adverse reaction is dose-related and can be labeled as Type A class of adverse effect. It can be considered as definite, Probable / conditional adverse drug reaction as per causality assessment of suspected adverse drug reactions. Thus, the hint of this written report is to create awareness about the rare but potentially fatal drug reaction like Stevens-Johnson syndrome with chloroquine which is ordinarily used for endemic malaria in India.