Unusual Case of Sweet Syndrome T

A Rare Reaction: When an Inhaler Triggers Sweet Syndrome

What started as a routine adjustment in a patient’s COPD inhaler rapidly unfolded into a puzzling medical mystery.

Within just two days, a 55-year-old woman developed intensely painful, bright red patches across her face and neck, accompanied by a mild fever.

While the visible symptoms subsided quickly, the biopsy results revealed an unexpected diagnosis—

Sweet syndrome, a rare immune-driven skin disorder.

This unusual case may mark the first time an inhaled medication has been linked to this condition, raising new questions about hidden risks in commonly prescribed treatments.

Case Overview

The patient, with a medical history including hypertension and COPD, had been stable on enalapril and formoterol inhaler for years. Due to declining lung function, her pulmonologist switched her inhaler to a combination of indacaterol and glycopyrronium. Just 48 hours after starting the new inhaler, she presented with painful erythematous plaques on her face and neck, plus a low-grade fever. She denied new cosmetic use, diet changes, or cold symptoms but mentioned recent sun exposure with proper protection.