Carbamazepine-induced skin rash in children with epilepsy.
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.
Konishi
T
T
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Naganuma
Y
Y
Hongo
K
K
Murakami
M
M
Yamatani
M
M
Okada
T
T
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
D002220:Carbamazepine