Herpetic gingivostomatitis mimicking Stevens-Johnson syndrome in an immunosuppressed adolescent with idiopathic chorioretinitis
We present the case of an 18-year-old male with bilateral idiopathic chorioretinitis maintained on immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone, adalimumab, and mycophenolate mofetil, who developed ulcers and bleeding of the lip mucosa after taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and amoxicillin/clavulanate for a suspected ear infection. The clinical presentation initially mimicked Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), but further evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of herpetic gingivostomatitis. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in differentiating between drug eruptions and infectious etiologies in immunosuppressed patients. Despite its severity, prompt recognition and antiviral therapy can lead to full recovery.
Authors
- Negin Yavari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9914-2935)
- Zheng Xian Thng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3275-7537)
- Jia‐Horung Hung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9582-439X)
- Aim-On Saengsirinavin
- Christopher Or
- Ngoc Trong Tuong Than (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6123-675X)
- Azadeh Mobasserian
- C. M. John
- Çigdem Yaşar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0386-3613)
- Amir Akhavanrezayat
- Xiaoyan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5784-1503)
- Quan Dong Nguyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0552-6880)
- Chaw-Ning Lee
- Osama Elaraby (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2907-0050)
- Dalia El Feky
- Frances Andrea Añover
Institutions
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Palo Alto University (US)
- Tanta University (EG)
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital (SG)
- Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute (US)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- IDCases
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2025.e02321
- Primary Topic
- Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00