Publication:

A study of cutaneous morphological patterns of adverse drug reactions in tertiary care center, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India

Background An adverse cutaneous drug reaction is an undesirable change in structure and function of skin, its appendages or mucous membrane due to drugs. The main aim of this study is to detect the pattern of adverse cutaneous drug reaction in a tertiary care hospital of Chitradurga district, Karnataka, India.

Methods A Hospital based cross sectional study was performed in a tertiary care hospital, Chitradurga for 6 months from January 2019 to June 2019. For each case, data regarding age, sex of the patient, clinical history, past history and comorbidities, name of suspected drugs, duration between drug intake and onset of reaction, morphology of drug eruption, associated mucosal or systemic involvement were analyzed.

Results During the 8 months study period, 30 patients have attended the dermatology outpatient department with cutaneous adverse drug reaction. Majority of the patients were in the age group 20-39 years and the male to female ratio was 1.1:1. The commonest drug reaction pattern observed was the maculopapular rash (40%), urticaria (20%), fixed drug eruption (5%), Stevens Johnson syndrome (10%), toxic epidermal necrolysis (6.7%) and exfoliative dermatitis (6.7%). Commonest drugs producing reactions were diclofenac (30%), amoxycillin (23.3%), carbamazepine (20%), anti-tubercular drugs (16.7%), phenytoin (6.7%) and dapsone (3.3%).

Conclusions Knowledge of the pattern and the offending drug helps in better management and reduced complications in these patients and also help in preventing recurrences.