Guidelines for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Singapore

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic pruritic condition affecting both children and adults, which has a negative impact on the quality of life. These guidelines were developed by an expert workgroup appointed by the Dermatological Society of Singapore, to provide doctors with information to assist in the management of their patients with atopic dermatitis. The workgroup members are experienced dermatologists with interest and expertise in eczemas.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Workgroup members arrived at a consensus on the topics to be included. Relevant studies from the literature were assessed for best evidence, supplemented by the collective experience of the workgroup.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For mild atopic dermatitis, emollients, mild potency topical steroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors are recommended. For moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, the use of emollients, moderate-to-potent topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, wet dressings, antimicrobials for secondary skin infection, phototherapy, and systemic therapy (e.g. prednisolone, cyclosporine, azathioprine or methotrexate) may be warranted. Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis should be managed in conjunction with a dermatologist.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Good outcomes can be achieved with an individualised therapeutic approach combined with adequate patient and parental education.</p>

Cutaneous pseudolymphoma occurring after traumatic implantation of a foreign red pigment

Cutaneous pseudolymphoma is an uncommon, benign lymphoproliferative disorder of the skin. Although this condition is most commonly idiopathic, its occurrence has been associated with cosmetic tattoos. We report a unique case of cutaneous pseudolymphoma that occured after accidental, traumatic inoculation of a red pigment in a healthy 33-year-old woman.

Inflammatory tinea capitis: non-healing plaque on the occiput of a 4-year-old child

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Inflammatory tinea capitis is an uncommon condition in Singapore. In this case report we present a patient whom we managed for this condition.</p><p><b>CLINICAL PICTURE</b>A 4-year-old girl presented to us with multiple pustules over the occipital scalp for 6 weeks, associated with painful cervical lymphadenopathy. Her condition did not respond to topical and oral antibiotics.</p><p><b>TREATMENT</b>The patient was diagnosed with kerion (inflammatory tinea capitis) and fungal culture of plucked hairs from the kerion grew Microsporum species of dermatophyte. She was treated with a course of oral griseofulvin and topical selenium sulfide shampoo. She was advised to bring her pet cats to the veterinarian for screening, as well as not to share combs with her other siblings.</p><p><b>OUTCOME</b>Her condition improved with the antifungal therapy, and there was no residual alopecia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Physicians should consider tinea capitis when they encounter a patient with scalp folliculitis or scarring alopecia in the appropriate clinical context.</p>

Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions in a General Hospital in Singapore: A One-Year Retrospective Analysis

Background Rashes are the most common adverse reaction to drugs. Our aim is to describe (i) the prevalence of cutaneous adverse drug reactions in hospitalised patients over a 1-year period in our hospital; (ii) the variety of cutaneous drug reactions; (iii) the characteristics of patients with cutaneous drug reactions and (iv)the drugs implicated. Methods A retrospective analysis of all adverse drug reactions from the pharmacists’ database from January to December 2003 was conducted. Patients’ records were reviewed to extract demographic data, drug implicated, route of administration, drug allergy history, type of cutaneous reaction, severity and presence of underlying chronic disease. Results Sixty-five patients met our inclusion criteria, giving an estimated prevalence of 1.8/1000 among hospitalised patients. The cases were mostly from the general medicine department (64.6%), with a slight male predominance (males, 53.8%; females 46.2%). Cutaneous adverse drug reactions were more common in the Malay population (32.3%). The mean age was 41.6 years (range, 13 to 85 years). The main drugs implicated were antibiotics (49.2%), mainly penicillins and cephalosporins, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (16.9%). Urticarial (46.1%) and generalised maculopapular eruptions (40.0%) were the most common patterns encountered. Others included Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (7.7%), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (1.5%) and erythroderma (1.5%). 29.2% of cases were considered to be severe. There were no deaths. 44.6% had an associated chronic disease and 24.6% had a previous documented drug allergy. Conclusion Antibiotics and NSAIDs were the major drugs involved. The commonest cutaneous manifestations were urticarial and maculopapular eruptions. A high proportion of reactions were considered severe and almost one-quarter had a previous drug allergy.

A study on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Southeast Asian dermatologists in the management of atopic dermatitis

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Southeast Asian dermatologists in the management of atopic dermatitis (AD).</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A questionnaire survey of 255 dermatologists in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Familiarity with diagnostic criteria varied considerably. The usage of moisturisers by the respondents from Vietnam and Indonesia was significantly less frequent than the other countries. Most respondents (91% to 100%) used topical corticosteroids in children with mild-to-moderately severe dermatitis. Some respondents in the Philippines (17% to 19%) and Vietnam (11% to 25%) only used topical corticosteroids for severe disease. For infected eczema, most respondents would prescribe systemic antibiotics for mild-to-moderate infection. A minority in the Philippines (14%) and Vietnam (11%) did so only for severe infection. The top 4 systemic antibiotics prescribed most frequently were: erythromycin, cloxacillin, cephalosporin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In Indonesia, a large proportion of the respondents (47%) prescribed amoxicillin most frequently. The majority of respondents (60% to 100%) prescribed both sedating and non-sedating oral antihistamines. Most respondents used oral corticosteroids to treat severe AD. Some in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam used cyclosporin (7% to 58%), azathioprine (5% to 31%) and methotrexate (5% to 14%). With the exception of those in Singapore, the majority of respondents (71% to 97%) did not use phototherapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Familiarity with diagnostic criteria, the early and judicious use of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids, as well as the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus superinfection with penicillinase-stable antibiotics should be emphasised in this region.</p>

Presumed dapsone-induced drug hypersensitivity syndrome causing reversible hypersensitivity myocarditis and thyrotoxicosis

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>A 22-year-old Malay soldier developed dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome 12 weeks after taking maloprim (dapsone 100 mg/pyrimethamine 12.5 mg) for anti-malarial prophylaxis.</p><p><b>CLINICAL PICTURE</b>He presented with fever, rash, lymphadenopathy and multiple-organ involvement including serositis, hepatitis and thyroiditis. Subsequently, he developed congestive heart failure with a reduction in ejection fraction on echocardiogram, and serum cardiac enzyme elevation consistent with a hypersensitivity myocarditis.</p><p><b>TREATMENT</b>Maloprim was discontinued and he was treated with steroids, diuretics and an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor.</p><p><b>OUTCOME</b>He has made a complete recovery with resolution of thyroiditis and a return to normal ejection fraction 10 months after admission.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In summary, we report a case of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome with classical symptoms of fever, rash and multi-organ involvement including a rare manifestation of myocarditis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of dapsone-related hypersensitivity myocarditis not diagnosed in a post-mortem setting. As maloprim is widely used for malaria prophylaxis, clinicians need to be aware of this unusual but potentially serious association.</p>