Abstract
The clinical and epidemiological findings in children with epilepsy who experienced skin rashes induced by carbamazepine (CBZ) were prospectively evaluated. Thirty-three (9.9%) of 335 patients who received CBZ therapy experienced a skin rash. Seven had diffuse erythema, 13 miliary exanthema, 11 maculopapular or speckled reddish rash, 3 petechiae, and 2 mucocutaneous syndrome. A skin rash was more frequent in older children (over 6 years old). The skin rashes appeared soon after initiation of the therapy, i.e., from the 8th to 60th day (mean: 14.3±9.6 days) after the start of CBZ therapy and disappeared within a few days after discontinuation of the therapy. Haematological abnormalities (30.3%), such as leucocytopenia and thrombocytopenia, and hepatic dysfunction (27.3%) sometimes appeared concomitantly with the skin rash. CBZ is an effective and safe antiepileptic drug, but careful management is necessary on initiation of the therapy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asmark H, Wiholm BE (1990) Epidemiology of adverse reactions to carbamazepine as seen in a spontaneous reporting system. Acta Neurol Scand 81:131–140
Eames P (1989) Adverse reactions to carbamazepine managed by desensitisation [letter]. Lancet I:509–510
Fischsel H, Heyer R (1970) Carbamazepine in der Behandlung kindlicher Epilepsien. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 95:2367–2370
Gamstorp I (1982) Treatment with carbamazepine: children. In: Peny JK, Daly DD (eds) Advances in neurology, Vol. 11. Raven Press, New York, pp 239–248
Grant RHE (1973) The use of carbamazepine (Tegretol) in patients with epilepsy and multiple handicaps. In: Wink CAS (ed) Tegretol in epilepsy. C Nicholls and Co., Manchester, England, pp 16–24
Hampton KK, Bramley PN, Feely M (1985) Failure of prednisone to suppress carbamazepine hypersensitivity [Letter]. N Engl J Med 313:509–510
Hassan MN, Parsonage MJ (1977) Experience in the long-term use of carbamazepine (Tegretol) in the treatment of epilepsy. In: Peny JK (ed) Epilepsy 8th International Symposium, Dublin, Ireland, 12–15 September 1976. Raven Press, New York, pp 35–44
Huf R, Schain RJ (1980) Long-term experiences with carbamazepine (Tegretol) in children with seizurs. J. Pediatr 97: 310–312
Lerman P, Kivity-Ephraims (1984) Carbamazepine sole anticonvulsant for focal epilepsy of childhood. Epilepsia 15:229–234
Livingston S, Pauli LL, Berman W (1974) Carbamazepine (Tegretol) in epilepsy. Nine year follow-up study with special emphasis on untoward reactions. Dis Nerv Syst 35:103–107
Masland RL (1982) Carbamazepine, Neurotoxicity. In: Woodburry DM, Peny JK, Pippenger CE (eds) Antiepileptic drugs. Ruven Press, New York
Murphy JM, Mashman J, Miller JD, Bell JB (1991) Suppression of carbamazepine-induced rash with prednisone. Neurology 41:144–145
Pellock JM (1987) Carbamazepine side-effects in children and adults. Epilepsia 28 [Suppl 13]:64–70
Pellock JM, Carzo GG, Garnett WR (1984) Carbamazepine in children: efficacy and adverse effects. Epilepsia 25:661–662
Schain RJ, Ward JW, Guthrie D (1977) Carbamazepine as an anticonvulsant in children. Neurology 27:476–480
Silverstein FS, Parrish MA, Johnston MV (1981) Adverse behavior reactions in children treated with carbamazepine (Tegretol) J Pediatr 101:785–787
Smith H, Newton R (1985) Adverse reactions to carbamazepine managed by desensitisation [Letter]. Lancet I:753
Vick NA (1983) Suppression of carbamazepine-induced skin rash with prednisone [letter]. N Engl J Med 309:1193–1194
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Konishi, T., Naganuma, Y., Hongo, K. et al. Carbamazepine-induced skin rash in children with epilepsy. Eur J Pediatr 152, 605–608 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954091
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01954091