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Fixed Drug Eruption due to Achiote Dye
Ian Tattersall1, Bobby Y Reddy1
1Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., USA.
Case Reports in Dermatology
|March 3, 2016
Summary
Fixed drug eruption (FDE) can be triggered by food additives, not just medications. This case highlights tartrazine (Yellow 5) in achiote dye as a cause of FDE in a child with no drug exposure.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction typically linked to medications.
- Identifying the causative agent is crucial for management, but non-pharmacological triggers are rarely identified.
Observation:
- A 12-year-old girl presented with FDE without any recent medication exposure.
- Her diet had recently changed after immigrating from Ecuador to the United States.
Findings:
- The FDE was hypothesized to be caused by a switch from natural achiote dye to a commercial dye mix containing tartrazine (Yellow 5) in yellow rice.
- Tartrazine is a known allergen implicated in hypersensitivity reactions and FDE.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of non-pharmacological triggers for fixed hypersensitivity eruptions.
- It underscores the importance of a thorough dietary history in diagnosing FDE when medication triggers are absent.
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