title: [A fixed drug eruption caused by paracetamol].
abstract: Fixed drug eruption is a hypersensitive skin response to drugs, which can present itself in different ways. The skin lesions are usually solitary, but can also appear as a maculopapular rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. While fixed drug eruptions can be caused by various drugs, paracetamol is responsible in 1.5% of cases.
  
  
  
  A 58-year-old man was seen in general practice with a five-year-old exanthema on his torso, arms and legs. A biopsy from one of the lesions revealed a fixed drug eruption. When asked, the patient admitted using paracetamol for the last five years on a near-daily basis to ease headaches. After cessation of paracetamol, the exanthema gradually disappeared.
  
  
  
  It continues to be important to ask patients with a rash of unclear origin about the use of any medicines. Particularly over-the-counter drugs with relatively few side-effects, such as paracetamol, should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Huisartsenpraktijk Nederweert, Nederweert.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Zogchel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adriaens
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Diederen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herremans
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060726:Torso
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen