Detection of cutaneous adverse drug reactions in tertiary care hospitals

The World Health Organization defines an adverse drug reaction (ADR) as “a response to a drug which is noxious and unintended, and which occurs at doses normally used in man for the prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of disease, or for the modification of physiological function.” The fact that drugs might have effects on humans other than the ones intended has been known for many years. The first remarkable adverse drug reaction (ADR) reported in Japan was anaphylactic shock caused by penicillin. The malformation of limbs, etc. caused by thalidomide was a global problem, and thalidomide was withdrawn from the market. Teratogenicity testing during new drug development has been implemented since 1963. During the six month study period, a total 192 patients visited Dermatology department. Highest number of patients from the age group of 21-30 i.e. 35.1%. Majority of the CADRs from the drug class antibiotics 12 (22.2%). According to Naranjo’s causality assessment scale, out of 54 CADRs the dechallenge was done in all cases, out of which 28 cases (51.8%) were probable and 14 cases (25.9%) were possible where as remaining 12 cases (22.2%) were fall into unlikely category. We also assessed the severity by using Hartwigand Siegelseverity assessment scale; it shows that highest number of 32 (59.2%) cases fall into moderate type and 10 (18.5%) cases were mild type whereas 12 (22.2%) cases fall into severe CADRs.