Exfoliative dermatitis, allergic drug reaction

The frequent side effects of the drug are nausea and vomiting. However, the drug may also be responsible for occasional optic atrophy, blindness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, renal damage, exfoliative dermatitis, allergic reactions and even death [9,12]. 

The common side effects are nausea and vomiting. The others are allergic symptoms including drug fever, skin rash, urticaria, eosinophilia, photosensitization reactions, serum sickness like syndrome. Stevens-Johnson syndrome and exfoliative dermatitis are also common with longer acting agents. 

Allergic skin reactions have been described with all sulfonylureas. They include pruritic rashes, erythema nodosum, urticaria, blisters (100), erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis, Quincke s edema, erythroderma, and itching, while lichenoid drug reactions with ulceration have occurred after chlorpropamide and tolazamide (124). More generalized hypersensitivity reactions may prove fatal, but rarely. 

Usually, but not invariably, dermatologic lesions are restricted to light-exposed areas. Changes may vary from urticaria to papular and eczematous eruptions with subsequent exfoliation and lichenification. Microscopically, it is very difficult to distinguish photoallergic reactions from nummular eczema, atop dermatitis, eczematous drug eruptions, and, especially, allergic contact dermatitis. 

The side effects of suramin are fever, joint pains, photophobia, peripheral neuropathy and allergic reactions. The later phase of drug therapy may cause kidney damage and exfoliative dermatitis. The use of this drug has been recommended only under medical supervision. 

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