Clinical profile of cutaneous drug reactions

Objective: To find out the clinical profile of cutaneous drug reactions in a tertiary level hospital. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, carried out for a period from January 2011 to December 2011, data were collected from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Patients suffering from adverse drug reactions were the study population and within the period of data collection, twenty patients were selected. Results: Out of total twenty patients, 9 (45%) had fixed drug eruptions, 4 (20%) urticaria, 3 (15%) Stevens-Johnson syndrome, 2 (10%) morbilliform rashes and 2 (10%) had erythema multiforme. The most common clinical presentation was hyperpigmented macule/patch in 5 (25%) cases, followed by urticarial plaque 4 (20%), erosive lesion 3 (15%) and loss of skin in sheets 10% body surface area 3 (15%) and morbilliform rashes and target lesions in 2(10%) each. 6 (30%) patients developed mucosal involvement only and majority of them 8 (40%) had oral involvement. The most common type of offending drug causing the drug reactions were sulfur containing drugs in 8 (40%) cases, followed by NSAIDs in 6 (30%), quinolones 3 (15%), metronidazole and anticonvulsants in a few. Conclusion: The common types of cutaneous drug eruptions are fixed drug eruptions, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, morbilliform rashes and erythema multiforme.