DRESS Syndrome

DRESS Syndrome

News: Recently, The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) warned about risks linked to the painkiller Meftal. They have cautioned about possible harmful reactions with the drug such as a severe condition called DRESS syndrome.

What is DRESS syndrome?
• DRESS syndrome, which stands for Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, is a severe hypersensitivity reaction to certain medications.
• It is characterized by a widespread skin rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and characteristic blood abnormalities such as an abnormally high level of eosinophils, low number of platelets, and increased number of atypical white blood cells (lymphocytes).
• The syndrome often involves potentially life-threatening inflammation of internal organs and has about a 10% mortality rate. The symptoms of DRESS syndrome usually begin 2 to 6 weeks but uncommonly up to 8–16 weeks after exposure to an offending drug.

What is the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission(IPC)?
• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• IPC is created to set standards of drugs in the country. Its basic function is to regularly update the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region.
• It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).
• It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.
• It also provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS) which act as a fingerprint for identification of an article under test and its purity as prescribed in IP.