Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reactions - A Clinico-demographic Study in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of the Kashmir Valley, India

Adverse cutaneous drug reactions (ACDRs) are caused by a wide variety of agents. The aim was to study the incidence and clinico-demographic profile of ACDRs to identify any potential risk factors and compare the results with other studies. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over a period of one year from October 2012 to October 2013 in the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care teaching hospital of the Kashmir valley in India and various ACDRs were recorded. The incidence of ACDRs was 0.16%. The mean age of patients was 39.36 ± 16.77 years. The male: female ratio was 0.97:1. The most frequently reported cutaneous reactions were with antimicrobials (57.33%) followed by NSAIDs (21.33%) and antiepileptic drugs (17.33%). Less common groups involved were steroids, antipsychotics and bisphosphonates (1.33% each). Fixed drug eruptions (FDEs) were the commonest (45.33%) followed by maculopapular (17.33%), photoallergic (8%), erythema multiforme (6.66%), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (5.33%) and lichenoid eruptions (4%). Less common patterns were urticaria, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS syndrome) and acneform eruptions (2.66% each) followed by angioedema, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), exfoliative dermatitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis (1.33% each). Physicians should have adequate knowledge of adverse drug reactions, especially of newer drugs which are increasing every year in order to minimize such events.