[Prevalence of allergy to drugs in a group of asthmatic children and adolescents of northeast of Mexico]

BACKGROUND

Drug adverse reactions are a common cause of morbidity and they constitute an important challenge in medical practice. The allergic reactions represent only a small proportion of all the drug adverse reactions and although their real prevalence is unknown, some estimated numbers have been suggested. It seems that atopia is not a risk factor for the development of this kind of reactions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed to assess the prevalence of drug allergy in asthmatic children of the northeast of Mexico that attend summer camps. We investigated the history of drug adverse reactions and their clinical features in 90 atopic asthmatic patients from 5 to 15 years old which were evaluated trough a questionnaire that was completed by their parents.

RESULTS

Eight of the 90 evaluated patients (8.8%) had history of adverse reactions to some drug. The drugs involved in that reactions were: penicillin in four patients (50%), aspirin in 2 (25%), trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole in one (12.5%) and metamizole sodium in one (12.5%). The most common administration route was oral. In all of the cases the diagnosis was made on clinical basis. One of the patients had suffered from anaphylaxis, but in the other seven, urticaria was the unique clinical manifestation of the reaction. In all of the affected patients, the reactions were totally resolved in less than 48 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of drug allergy in this group was similar to that reported in general population. Penicillin was the most common involved drug and urticaria was the most frequent clinical manifestation.