Korean J Pediatr.  2019 Feb;62(2):75-78. 10.3345/kjp.2018.06695.

Drug eruption by antihistamine mistaken for chronic urticaria in a child

• Lee GM
• Chu SY
• Kang SY
• Kim HB
• Park JS
• Kim JK

• KMID: 2440841
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2018.06695

Abstract

Although rare, antihistamines can cause adverse effects, including drug-induced eruptions or anaphylaxis. A 4-year-old child visited the pediatric department of a hospital for skin eruptions after administration of antihistamines, (e.g., ucerax [hydroxyzine] or leptizine [levocetirizine]), for cholinergic rashes; he did not have pruritus. Skin prick, intradermal, and drug provocation tests were performed to determine the relationship between the antihistamines and eruptions. Levocetirizine induced wheals in the skin prick test and a rash in the oral drug provocation test. In contrast, ketotifen induced no reaction in the skin prick test but showed a positive reaction in the oral provocation test. Our case report highlights that children can experience the same types of adverse reactions as seen in adults, and cross-reactivity between various antihistamines can occur.

Keyword

Histamine antagonists; Drug eruptions; Maculopapular; Chronic urticaria

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anaphylaxis
Child*
Child, Preschool
Drug Eruptions*
Exanthema
Histamine Antagonists
Humans
Ketotifen
Pruritus
Skin
Urticaria*
Histamine Antagonists
Ketotifen