Clinical study of cutaneous drug eruptions in 200 patients

Background: Cutaneous drug reactions are the most common adverse attributed to drugs. Any skin disorder can be imitated, or aggravated by drugs. Aims: The present study was carried to determine the age, sex incidence and clinical pattern of drug, to recognize offending drugs (self medication or), to evaluate mortality and morbidity associated with drugs, educate the patients, and to avoid self-administration of drugs and-administration of the offending drugs. Methods: The diagnosis of drug reactions is mainly based on detailed history and between drug intake and the onset of rash. Two hundred (112 males and 88 females) presenting with cutaneous drug were studied. Results: Fixed drug eruption was seen in 61; others being urticaria and angioedema, morbilliform rash in37, pruritus in 25, Stevens Johnson (SJ) syndrome in six, purpura in, exfoliative dermatitis in five, photosensitivity in five, Toxic Necrolysis in two, acneiform eruption in three, and erythema in two patients. The most frequently affected age group was41-50 years, followed by the 21-30 and 31-40 years age groups. The patient was one year old and the oldest was 80 years old. The of development of lesions after the intake of drug(s) varies 01-45 days. Cotrimoxazole was the offending drug in 26 cases, by Ibuprofen in 20 cases. Conclusions: Fixed drug eruption the most common drug eruption seen. Cotrimoxazole was the most cause of drug eruptions.