Hypersensitivity to Carbamazepine Mimicking Infection

Abstract
Carbamazepine may produce a wide range of side effects including blood dyscrasias, liver damage, lethargy, skin eruptions, psychoses and extrapyramidal symptoms.1 Hypersensitivity reactions to carbamazepine are uncommon but have included generalized lymphadenopathy, pulmonary eosinophilia, asthma, pseudolymphoma, thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, inappropriate antiduresis, erythroderma and renal failure.1-9 Such reactions are rare in children. One child recently presented with symptoms and physical signs suggestive of a viral infection, after having shown an allergic response to phenobarbital.