Red herring in returned traveler: drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptom (DRESS) syndrome mimicking sepsis.

We report a case of a 51-year-old Han Chinese recently returned traveler, who was admitted with a generalized maculopapular rash, fevers, shock, and multi-organ failure. Extensive investigations failed to reveal an infective cause. Skin biopsy findings together with the recent commencement of allopurinol raised a diagnosis of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptom syndrome. High-dose prednisolone was commenced and the patient made a rapid recovery. This case highlights that not all sepsis-like presentations in returned travelers are due to infective causes and that severe drug reactions need to be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Epidemiology and management of Buruli ulcer.

Buruli ulcer (Mycobacterium ulcerans infection) is a neglected tropical disease of skin and subcutaneous tissue that can result in long-term cosmetic and functional disability. It is a geographically restricted infection but transmission has been reported in endemic areas in more than 30 countries worldwide. The heaviest burden of disease lies in West and Sub-Saharan Africa where it affects children and adults in subsistence agricultural communities. Mycobacterium ulcerans infection is probably acquired via inoculation of the skin either directly from the environment or indirectly via insect bites. The environmental reservoir and exact route of transmission are not completely understood. It may be that the mode of acquisition varies in different parts of the world. Because of this uncertainty it has been nicknamed the 'mysterious disease'. The therapeutic approach has evolved in the past decade from aggressive surgical resection alone, to a greater focus on antibiotic therapy combined with adjunctive surgery.