ADVERSE CUTANEOUS DRUG REACTION: STUDY OF 200 CASES FROM TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Krina Bharat Patel* Ruchin B Patel

ABSTRACT

Background: Adverse cutaneous drug reactions (ACDRs) are caused by a wide variety of agents and in different forms. Aims: Our objective was to assess the clinical spectrum of ACDRs and to find out the causative drugs in patients of tertiary care hospital. Methods: 200 patients with ACDR presenting in skin OPD between 2005 – 2011 were included in this study. Type of drug reaction and offending drugs were noted. Routine hematological and biochemical investigations were done in all patients. S. VDRL and S. HIV tests were done as when indicated. Histopathology was done in cases which required confirmation. Results: The Mean age of patients with ACDR was 38.26 years. Highest number of patients (26.5%) were reported in 41-50 years of age. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. The most common pattern of ACRD was urticaria and/or angioedema (33.5%) . Co-trimoxazole and Diclofenac were most common culprit drugs. Many rare and severe type of ACDR like acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and drug induced rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms were found in our series. Conclusion: Identifying drug reaction at early stage and finding out culprit drug is essential for physician for preventing disability arising out of ACDR and also to morbidity and mortality due to complications of ACDR.

Keywords: Adverse cutaneous drug reaction, drug rash, drug reaction