[Allergic drug reactions in children]

We present a retrospective study of allergic drug reactions seen in our pediatric allergy consulting room during the last 6 years. During this time, 840 patients were examined for suspected adverse drug reactions. Drug allergy was confirmed in 72 cases (8.5%). Of these cases, 29 (40.2%) were considered to be IgE mediated, or immediate hypersensitivity reactions. We have not found significant differences with regards to age, sex, atopic family history or atopia between patients with IgE mediated reactions compared to patients with allergic drug reactions of different mechanisms or to patients without drug allergies. Sulfonamides, streptomycin, beta-lactam and analgesics were the drugs most frequently involved in immediate type reactions. Among non-immediate reactions, fixed eruption by sulfonamides and contact dermatitis due to Mercurochrome were the most frequent.