Systemic contact dermatitis
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis

The following medications have been reported to cause systemic contact dermatitis:
- Erythromycin
- Penicillin
- Aminoglycosides: gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, and topical neomycin can cross-sensitize
- Tolbutamide or chlorpropamide in patients sensitized to paraphenylenediamine or paraaminobenzoic acid (PABA) or its esters, or benzocaine
- Phenothiazine in patients sensitized by topically cross-reacting or related antihistamines
- Edetate disodium due to exposure to azelastine nasal spray
- Acetylsalicylic acid from oral aspirin / acetylsalicylic acid
- Aminophylline in people with ethylenediamine allergy
- Amlexanox
- Intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide
- 5-aminosalicylic acid
- Codeine
- Diclofenac
- Hydroxyquinoline
- Prednisone
- 8-methyoxypsoralen
- Nystatin
- Phenobarbital
- Pseudoephedrine
- Tetraethylthiuram disulfide
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- Thimerosal from oral or nasal antipneumococcal vaccine
Codes
ICD10CM:L27.0 – Generalized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments taken internally
SNOMEDCT:
40275004 – Contact dermatitis
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Contact dermatitis
- Dyshidrotic dermatitis
- Photoallergic dermatitis (eg, drug-induced photoallergic reaction)
- Photosensitive dermatitis (eg, drug-induced photosensitive reaction)
- Fixed drug eruption
- Atopic dermatitis
- Exanthematous drug eruption
- Viral exanthem
- Symmetric drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema (SDRIFE)
- Toxic erythema of chemotherapy
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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Drug Reaction Data
Below is a list of drugs with literature evidence indicating an adverse association with this diagnosis. The list is continually updated through ongoing research and new medication approvals. Click on Citations to sort by number of citations or click on Medication to sort the medications alphabetically.Subscription Required
References
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Last Reviewed:04/17/2017
Last Updated:01/22/2019
Last Updated:01/22/2019