Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions in Children: Epidemiological, Clinical and Etiological Aspects in Dermatology-Venereology Unit at National and Teaching Hospital of Cotonou.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and etiological aspects of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions in children in dermatologyvenereology unit at National and Teaching Hospital of Cotonou.

METHODS

A retrospective and descriptive study was carried out for 10 years in dermatology-venereology unit at the National and Teaching Hospital of Cotonou to document the epidemiological, clinical and etiological aspects of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions in children. It included all children aged from 0 to 18 years with clinical diagnosis of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Drug imputability was based on the criteria of the French pharmacovigilance group.

RESULTS

Severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions accounted for 47.3% of paediatric cases (35/74 cases). The mean age was 9.3 years ± 5.2. The sex-ratio was 1.1. Self-medication was noted in 76.5% of children, on the initiative of parents in 66.7% of cases. There were 51.4% cases of Steven Johnson syndrome, 22.8% cases of Lyell syndrome, 8.5% cases of generalized and bullous fixed drug eruption, 2.9% cases of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and erythrodermic maculo-papular rash. Drug combinations was noted in 20% of cases. Penicillins (26.5%), paracetamol and sulfonamides (16.3%) were the drugs frequently incriminated.

CONCLUSION

Steven Johnson syndrome and Lyell syndrome were the main severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions in children, mostly of school age. Penicillins, paracetamol and sulfonamides were the drugs frequently used and administered most often on self-medication.