Prevalence of Skin Drug Eruptions in Dermatology Departments of Tehran Hospitals

The most common drug side effects are skin reactions. These reactions range from simple Maculopapular eruptions to massive epidermal necrosis. There are not still enough data about drug eruptions in Iran, because minor side effects resolve spontaneously or as outpatients. In this survey, we studied skin drug eruptions among patients admitted to dermatology departments of two hospital centers in Tehran between 2001 and 2009. This was a descriptive study and included all cases who were admitted in Hazrat-Rasonl and loghman-Hakim hospitals for skin drug reaction between 2001 and 2009.We derived their demographic dataand other information from their medical records.Then we analyzed data with SPSS 12 software, using descriptive statistical tests. Our samples contained 150 patients, including 90 females and 60 males. Frequency of different skin reactions was as follows: Maculopapular eruptions 82 cases, Steven Johnson syndrome 31 cases, Urticarial reactions 10 cases, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis reactions 5 cases, Erythrodermal eruptions 8 cases, Edematous eruptions 4 cases and Multiform Erythema 2 cases. The most vulnerable drugs in our study were in order: Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Lomotrigin, Penicillin and Co-trimoxazole. These five drugs were in charge for 50 percent of all cases.Most of the drugs were prescribed for urinary tract infections, Convulsions, and Diarrhea. Skin drug reactions in this study varied Tremendously from the most simple type i.e. Maculopapular eruptions which is the most common form worldwide, to the most complex ones, i.e. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.According to the findings, Maculopapular eruptions and Steven Johnson Syndrome are the most common forms of skin drug reactions.