title: Carbamazepine-induced skin rash in children with epilepsy.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naganuma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hongo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamatani
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine