title: Cutaneous drug reactions in children: an update.
abstract: Cutaneous drug reactions account for a large proportion of adverse drug reactions. Cutaneous drug reactions can be very challenging to diagnose. They can mimic many other skin diseases; this is especially evident during childhood, when viral exanthems are commonplace. Also, if a patient is taking numerous medications, establishing causality to a specific drug can be multifaceted and difficult. The purpose of this review is to highlight an approach to the diagnosis of a suspected cutaneous drug reaction in a child. We have classified different types of drug eruptions by morphology: exanthematous, urticarial, pustular, and bullous. Within each of these groups we have divided them into simple, benign, or non-febrile and complex or febrile reactions. We also include a miscellaneous group to ensure a methodical review.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, karaheelan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heelan
authors.forename: Neil H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Shear
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology