Fixed Drug Eruptions (FDE) in an Urban Centre in South-South Nigeria

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND.Fixed drug eruptions are adverse cutaneous reactions to ingested drugs; characterized by the formation of solitary or multiple erythematous patches; plaques; bullae or erosions that reoccur at an identical skin site within hours of re ingestion of the offending drug. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of Fixed drug eruptions with the identification of common causative drugs among patients at the dermatology clinic of an urban tertiary hospital in the South-south region of Nigeria.METHODS.All consecutive patients with a diagnosis of fixed drug eruptions seen at the dermatology clinic from January 2005 to January 2013 were included in the study. The diagnosis of fixed drug eruptions was made based on clinical findings of lesion (s) of the same form occurring twice or more at the same sites as a result of a re-administration of a causative drug; and confirmation by a challenge test. RESULTS.The diagnosis of fixed drug eruption was made in 99 out of 5106 (1.93%) patients; with a slight female dominance. FDE affected all age groups; the youngest presented at 9 months of age and the oldest at 86 years. Majority of patients (66.7%) did not know the offending drug.The most implicated drugs were the sulphonamides (21.2%); followed by antibiotics made up of ampiclox; tetracycline and penicillin (4.04%) and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (3.03%). The commonest site of presentation was the face (32%); especially the mucosa of the mouth; followed by generalized presentation (28%).The frequency of Lower limb presentation was (13%); and followed by the upper limb (11%) and the trunk (7.1%).CONCLUSION.Fixed drug eruptions are a cause for great concern to the patient. Consistent with some other studies sulphonamides; clotrimoxazole and fansidar were the most implicated drugs