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Suspicious drug hypersensitivity reactions in pediatric patients: a retrospective single-center study

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Abstract

Background

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are important clinical problems in childhood. There have been only a limited number of studies conducted in Turkey on this subject. This study was performed to obtain knowledge about DHRs in pediatric patients. Therefore, this study assesses the properties of hypersensitivity reactions, culprit drugs, patient risk factors, and common errors related to the management of these reactions.

Methods

The study was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study by an assessment of data from 96 patients with DHRs evaluated in our department between December 2009 and August 2011. Information was obtained on prevalence of the DHRs, type and properties of the reactions, culprit drugs, patient characteristics, and the management of the reactions.

Results

The total prevalence of DHRs was 0.47%. The prevalence of DHRs was 0.38 and 0.50% in inpatients and outpatients, respectively, while the prevalence of DHRs requiring hospitalization of outpatients was 0.1%. The drugs most commonly causing hypersensitivity reactions were β-lactam antibiotics (80.3%). The skin was the most common system involved in DHRs, and maculopapular rashes were the most common type of skin involvement (40.5%). Anaphylaxis was the most common severe DHR. Of the five patients with identified anaphylaxis, only two received epinephrine.

Conclusion

β-Lactam antibiotics were the most common causative agent in this study. Therefore, the rationale use of antibiotics for infections commonly encountered in childhood is important. Physicians’ levels of knowledge about the recognition of anaphylaxis and the management of severe reactions should be increased. It is important to evaluate patients who have a history of previous DHRs and/or asthma in order to prevent future DHRs. It is necessary to educate doctors about the administration of epinephrine as the most important part of the treatment of anaphylaxis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Allergy, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

    Pinar Gokmirza Ozdemir & Mehtap Yazicioglu

Authors
  1. Pinar Gokmirza Ozdemir
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  2. Mehtap Yazicioglu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pinar Gokmirza Ozdemir.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, protocol code TÜBADK 2011/194, decision number 16/10, on 17 August 2011. The study was conducted retrospectively. Data was collected and analyzed from patient ENDA forms. All of the parents gave consent to collect and analyze data contained in their children’s charts.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Funding

No funding was received.

Authors’ contributions

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Ozdemir, P.G., Yazicioglu, M. Suspicious drug hypersensitivity reactions in pediatric patients: a retrospective single-center study. Drugs Ther Perspect 33, 435–441 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-017-0427-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-017-0427-5

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