Related Experiment Videos
Fixed drug eruption to tartrazine
1Dermatology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology
|February 12, 1998
Summary
A child experienced a recurring fixed drug eruption from tartrazine, a common artificial colorant. Oral challenges confirmed tartrazine in food as the trigger, highlighting the need to consider artificial additives in drug eruptions.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Clinical Toxicology
Background:
- Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a specific type of cutaneous adverse drug reaction.
- Tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5) is a widely used synthetic yellow azo dye found in various foods and medications.
- Recurrent FDE suggests a hypersensitivity reaction to a specific ingested substance.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old female presented with a recurrent fixed drug eruption on her left hand.
- The eruption was consistently associated with the ingestion of artificially colored food products.
- The patient underwent oral provocation testing with both a suspected food item and pure tartrazine.
Findings:
- Oral provocation tests confirmed tartrazine as the causative agent for the fixed drug eruption.
- The reaction manifested specifically on the dorsum of the left hand, indicating a localized hypersensitivity.
- This case demonstrates a clear link between artificial food coloring and FDE.
Implications:
- Artificial food colorants, such as tartrazine, should be considered as potential triggers for fixed drug eruptions.
- Clinicians should inquire about the ingestion of artificially colored foods in patients presenting with recurrent FDE.
- Increased awareness and diagnostic vigilance are necessary to identify non-medicinal triggers of FDE, including food additives, flavors, and preservatives.