News Excerpt: 

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) issued an advisory about the side effects of Meftal - a commonly consumed painkiller - as it could be a reaction known as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.

DRESS Syndrome

DRESS syndrome (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) is an adverse reaction term that is currently used to describe a hypersensitivity reaction. DRESS syndrome is a type 4 hypersensitivity reaction. It is a serious drug reaction affecting the skin and other organs, with a mortality rate of up to 10%.

• Sometimes referred to as DIHS (Drug-Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome).

Symptoms of DRESS syndrome

• The symptoms can vary, but they typically develop over several days, with the typical onset being 2–6 weeks after starting the responsible medicine.
• Typical signs of DRESS syndrome include: fever, skin rashes or eruption, eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytosis, swollen lymph nodes and inflammation of internal organs.

Treatment

• The most important treatment for DRESS Syndrome is Early recognition and immediate withdrawal of the medication in treating the disease.
• Corticosteroids are often used and sometimes immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine are frequently used for the treatment.

About Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an Autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 
• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) to deal with matters relating to the official book of standards for drugs included therein, in terms of the Second Schedule to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 
• The Commission became fully operational on 1st January 2009 as an Autonomous Body, fully financed by the Central Government.

Functions:

• Its basic function is to regularly update the standards of drugs commonly required for the treatment of diseases prevailing in this region. 
• It publishes official documents for improving the Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). 
• It further promotes the rational use of generic medicines by publishing the National Formulary of India. 
• IP prescribes standards for the identity, purity and strength of drugs essentially required from the health care perspective of human beings and animals. 
• IPC 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.

Conclusion:

DRESS syndrome is a complex and potentially life-threatening medical emergency. Early recognition and diagnosis are very important to halt disease progression and prevent long-term complications and even death. Careful treatment planning is essential to prevent and manage long-term complications.