Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Dermatology
Cutaneous drug eruptions and drug toxicities
Recent articles on:
Drug reactions
Drug reactions
Abstract
Drug eruptions range from common nuisance eruptions to rare life-threatening drug-induced diseases. Certain classes of drugs are often implicated.
Key Points
- Cutaneous reactions due to drug therapy are common and are an important cause of patient morbidity and mortality.
- Adverse reactions to drugs range from common nuisance eruptions to rare life-threatening drug-induced diseases.
- Although antimicrobial agents, NSAIDs and anticonvulsants are the most commonly implicated drugs in adverse drug reactions, all drugs should be suspected if there is a sudden onset cutaneous reaction in a patient taking a medication.
- The severity of systemic involvement is not necessarily indicated by the severity of the cutaneous reaction so all patients presenting with a cutaneous eruption due to a drug should be further evaluated for systemic symptoms and signs.
- Lives can be saved by appropriate drug dosing, consideration of intercurrent drug therapies and diseases, early recognition of potentially severe reactions and appropriate management.
Purchase the PDF version of this article
Already a subscriber? Login here.