[Drug eruptions in children in Cotonou, Benin]

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological aspects of drug eruptions in children in hospital area in Cotonou.

A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Dermatology of Cotonou (Benin) from 1998 to 2009. All cases of drug eruption occurred, during the study period, in children under 16 years old were selected for the study. The diagnosis of the drug eruption was based on clinical findings. The Identification of culprit drugs was based on the criteria as defined by the French Group of Pharmaco-vigilance.

From 1998 to 2009, 232 cases of drug eruption were diagnosed in the Department of Dermatology. Of this, 35 cases occurred in children under 16 years old. The patient mean age was 6.6 years with a sex ratio of 0.94. 4 patients were HIV positive. The culprit drug was identified in 21 patients (60%): sulfonamides 52.38% (11/21 cases), penicillin 9.52% (2 cases), vaccine 9.52% (2 cases), acetaminophen 9.52% (2 cases), acetyl salicylic acid 4.76% (n = 1), quinine 4.76% (n = 1), phenobarbital 4.76% (n = 1) and ceftriaxone 4.76% (n = 1). The main clinical patterns were: fixed drug eruption 45.71% (16/35), maculopapular rash 17.14% (n = 6), Stevens-Johnson syndrome 17.14% (n=6), and urticaria 8.57% (n = 3), 1 case of toxic epidermal necrolysis was seen and one patient died.

Skin reactions caused by drug intake are a rare disorder among children and fixed drug eruption is the main clinical presentation of the disease in Cotonou (Benin).