title: Aetiology of febrile mucocutaneous syndromes with special reference to the provocative role of infections and drugs.
abstract: The survey covers 266 patients with febrile mucocutaneous syndromes. A brief account of the highly varied clinical picture is given. The syndromes constitute an allergic reaction which in most drug-provoked cases appeared as a late immunological reaction of serum disease type; for the rest sensitization had probably often taken place. An allergic disposition could be traced in 34% of the cases. Infections and drugs were the causative factor 235 cases (88.3%). Infections accounted for 25.2% drugs for 36.1% and both together for 27.1%. An account is given of the provocative bacterial and viral infections and of the role of drugs in cases with and without infection. Among the remaining 31 cases an infection and/or drug may have been the provocative agent in 16 (6 %) whereas 15 (5.6%) may have been due to alimentary and other factors.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology