title: [Allergic reactions to paracetamol].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paracetamol is an extensively used analgesic and antipyretic. Allergy to this drug is occasionally reported and is usually moderate.
  
  
  METHODS
  We led a retrospective study of 119 cases of allergic reactions to paracetamol notified to the Tunisian centre of pharmacovigilance, between September 1990 and September 2000. These cases were validated according to the method of imputability of Bégaud et al.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our population comprised 64 women and 55 men, aged 1 month to 70 years. Antecedents of allergy or atopy were found in many cases, including 10 cases of allergy to paracetamol and 6 to salicylates. Paracetamol was self-administered in 50% of cases and taken with other drugs in 68% of cases. The type of lesions varied, the most frequent being urticaria (34.4%), macular and pustular eruption (30.2%) and fixed drug eruption (12.6%). Some reactions were serious, such as Lyell syndrome or anaphylactic shock. Resolution was favourable in all cases and paracetamol was definitively contraindicated for patients with scores of high or mild imputability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergy to paracetamol seems to be rare but not exceptional. Several risk factors seem to be important in triggering this side effect, particularly antecedents of allergy to this drug or to aspirin.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de Pharmacovigilance, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisie. Riadh.Daghfous@fmt.rnu.tn
authors.forename: Riadh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Daghfous
authors.forename: Sihem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Aidli
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jday
authors.forename: Sarrah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kastalli
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klouz
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srairi
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lakhal
authors.forename: Mohamed-Hédi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Loueslati
authors.forename: Chelbi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belkahia
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen