The Wearable Advocate: Why Having a Medical ID Is Vital for People With DRESS Syndrome
- Deanna Lorianni
- Feb 6
- 4 min read
When living with a relatively unknown disease like DRESS Syndrome, people often must become their best advocate. Medical awareness of DRESS is unfortunately low, which can threaten patient care and survival.
DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, and is a severe reaction to medicine that can quickly become life-threatening and affect multiple organs. An estimated 1 in 1,000 to 10,000 people will develop DRESS Syndrome from taking certain medicines.
DRESS is often labeled as a “drug allergy.” But, it’s not a typical allergy. Instead, it’s a serious and complex immune reaction. Because of its severity and long-term risks, medical teams must always treat DRESS as a high-priority drug hypersensitivity.
Most people with DRESS will ultimately survive. However, they often live with the anxiety of developing a new case if they are exposed to the same medicine again. Or, they could be treated with a related drug that triggers another severe immune reaction.
Bridging this gap is a simple yet powerful tool for helping people with DRESS Syndrome potentially avoid taking medicines they’re allergic to: medical IDs.
What is a medical ID?
A medical identification (ID) is a wearable item that people have, often as a card or a bracelet, to share important health information about them. They can offer medical teams essential, life-threatening details should a person be unable to advocate or communicate for themselves during a medical emergency.
For people with DRESS Syndrome and life-threatening reactions to medicines, you can list drugs you have reactions to (“culprit drug”) on your medical ID. From there, always have this ID with you.
Do medical IDs help improve patient outcomes?
Yes, they can directly help patients — both through the medical teams who serve them and the patients navigating medical care.
Medical Support
According to American Medical ID, 95% of emergency medical responders look for a medical ID on the wrist. And more than 75% of them immediately look for medical IDs when assessing a patient. When medical teams have access to this information at the beginning of care, they can make better diagnosis and treatment decisions. They can also help prevent patient emergencies, avoid dangerous drug exposures, and reduce emergency complications.
Studies on drug allergy passports (also a form of wearable/portable ID) show that patients who use them are better informed and have a greater sense of security. Crucially, specialists who were shown these IDs followed the recommendations and chose safer treatment alternatives.
Similar to medical IDs, drug allergy passports are either a document or an app that provide critical medical information about serious patient drug reactions and hypersensitivities. They are more commonly used in Europe. The study reveals that having documented medical information on drug reactions and allergies can help patients and medical teams better navigate treatment and care.
Patient Support
Another positive outcome of having a medical ID is the peace of mind it can provide patients. Knowing they have a tool to help communicate their medical needs can unwind intense worry and anxiety.
For DRESS Syndrome survivor Amy Emberly, having a medical ID bracelet listing her culprit drug has been a game-changer in her recovery.
“I feel less anxious about the unknowns,” says Amy. “The cumulative effects and ongoing PTSD of DRESS are lessened by having this simple and essential alert bracelet.”
For many survivors, this visible reminder helps ensure that future medical providers understand the seriousness of their past reaction.
What medical ID options exist?
People have various ways for creating their medical IDs. Common ones include:
Jewelry: Bracelets, necklaces, anklets
Tags: Shoe tags, watch accessories like Apple Watch medical ID
ID Card: Physical medical card you carry with you in a wallets, purses, or pockets
IDs on Smartphones: Built-in medical ID features on Apple and Android phones. Here are instructions for setting up a medical ID on an Apple phone and Android.
Where to Buy Medical IDs
For those interested in medical ID jewelry, various companies exist that can help you create this ID. Common ones are:
For people interested in carrying a medical ID card, here are some options:
You can also download our Foundation's medical ID template to use for printing your own card.
Please note: We’ve included these links to help you research which organization best fits your medical ID needs. DRESS Syndrome Foundation doesn’t endorse specific vendors.
What should you put on your medical ID?
Beyond your personal information like full name, people with DRESS Syndrome should be specific about their drug reaction history. We recommend including:
Your DRESS Syndrome diagnosis and date you received diagnosis — spell out the full name, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) Syndrome
“Severe Drug Reaction"
The specific medicine that caused your reaction (culprit drug)
The medicine classes to avoid in the future (called “cross-reactivity,” medicines that are in the same family and may cause similar reactions)
A note to treat as high-risk drug hypersensitivity
Direct action to take, like to call your preferred specialist or see Wallet Card
These details help medical professionals immediately recognize the seriousness of your condition.
Ultimately, for people with life-threatening conditions like DRESS Syndrome, having a medical ID is an easy and powerful step to take. This vital information can help protect your health, and ultimately, your life. Further, you can find comfort in knowing that you have a wearable medical advocate that can be your voice when you may need it most.
Sources:
Yasmeen, B. (2025). A Medical ID Can Save a Life. Northern International Medical College Journal. 653-654. 10.3329/nimcj.v15i1.85395. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/397344421_A_Medical_ID_Can_Save_a_Life
Branicka O, Rogala B, Gluck J. Usefulness of the drug allergy passport in the drug allergy management. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2021 Jun;38(3):433-439. doi: 10.5114/ada.2021.107930. Epub 2021 Jul 26. PMID: 34377124; PMCID: PMC8330863. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34377124/
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