DRUG ERUPTIONS

Abstract

In a previous article on drug eruptions,¹we discussed mainly fixed phenolphthalein eruptions and came to the conclusion that in these, except for the ingestion test to be mentioned, neither skin tests nor any other forms of testing have been evolved which are of value in diagnosis and in proving existing hypersensitiveness to the drug. We believe this to be true in practically all drug eruptions of noneczematous and nonurticarial type. (The passive transfer experiments of Biberstein²and others are still much too complicated, much too uncertain and irregular, and too doubtful in their significance to be of aid in individual cases.) We are, therefore, in the case of fixed eruptions, reduced to the unsatisfactory, sometimes dangerous or impossible expedient of waiting until an eruption subsides and then administering the suspected drug (ingestion test). In the eczematous drug eruptions,³the situation in regard to testing is much