Dermatitis Medicamentosa
What do you understand by dermatitis medicamentosa?
Under this head are included all eruptions due to the ingestion or absorption of certain drugs.
In rare instances one dose will have such effect; commonly, however, it results only after several days' or weeks' continued administration. With some drugs such effect is the rule, with others it is exceptional, nor are all individuals equally susceptible.
How is the eruption produced in dermatitis medicamentosa?
In some instances it is probably due to the elimination of the drug through the cutaneous structures; in others, to the action of the drug upon the nervous system. The view that the drug acts as a toxin or generates some toxin or irritant material in the blood, to which the eruptive phenomena may be due, has also been advanced
What is the character of the eruption in dermatitis medicamentosa?
It may be erythematous, papular, urticarial, vesicular, pustular or bullous, and, if the administration of the drug is continued, even gangrenous.
Name the more common drugs having such action.
Antipyrin, arsenic, atropia (or belladonna), bromides, chloral, copaiba, cubebs, digitalis, iodides, mercury, opium (or morphia), quinine, salicylic acid, stramonium, acetanilid, sulphonal, phenacetin, turpentine, many of the new coal-tar derivatives, etc.
State frequency and types of eruption due to the ingestion of antipyrin.
Not uncommon. Erythematous, morbilliform and erythemato-papular; itching is usually present and moderate desquamation may follow. Acetanilid, sulphonal, phenacetin, and other drugs of this class may provoke like eruptions.
Mention frequency and types of eruption due to the ingestion of arsenic.
Rare. Erythematous, erythemato-papular; exceptionally, herpetic, and pigmentary. Herpes zoster has been thought to follow its use. Keratosis of the palms and soles has also been occasionally observed, which, in rare instances, has developed into epithelioma.
Mention frequency and types of eruption due to the ingestion of atropia (or belladonna).
Not uncommon. Erythematous and scarlatinoid; usually no febrile disturbance, and desquamation seldom follows.
Give frequency and types of cutaneous disturbance following the administration of the bromides (bromine).
Common. Pustular, sometimes furuncular and carbuncular and superficially ulcerative. In exceptional instances papillomatous or vegetating lesions have been observed. Co-administration of arsenic or potassium bitartrate is thought to have a preventive influence in some cases. [Pg 62]
State frequency and types of cutaneous disturbance due to the administration of chloral.
Occasional. Scarlatinoid and urticarial, and exceptionally purpuric; in rare instances, if drug is continued, eruption becomes vesicular, hemorrhagic, ulcerative and even gangrenous.
State frequency and types of eruption following the administration of copaiba.
Not uncommon. Urticarial, erythemato-papular and scarlatinoid.
Mention frequency and types of eruption resulting from the ingestion of cubebs.
Uncommon. Erythematous and small papular.