Allergic Contact dermatitis with exfoliation secondary to calamine/diphenhydramine lotion in a 9 year old girl
147-150
Correspondence
Dr. Gupta S, Department of Dermatology and Venereal Disease, Manipal Teaching Hospital/Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal.
Phone:+977 61 526416 Extn: 131.
E-mail: babitasanjeev@yahoo.com
Calamine/diphenhydramine lotion is a bland, smoothening, antipruritic lotion commonly used in several dermatological conditions. Skin reactions due to this preparation are very rare. We report a case of contact dermatitis following the application of Calamine/diphenhydramine in a 9 year old child. The drug was stopped and the patient was managed symptomatically. The causality, severity and preventability assessments were carried out as per the standard criteria. We could not confirm the exact cause behind the adverse drug reaction (ADR) as the child’s parents was not willing for rechallenge. Since calamine is made up of zincoxide and ferric chloride, the exact compound that might have caused the ADR is not confirmed. Since Calamine/diphenhydramine is a commonly used preparation, one should be aware of this reaction.