Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction

This paper describes an unreported case of a rifaximin-induced phototoxic reaction in an otherwise healthy 24-year-old female (skin type: V). The patient developed malaise, chills, and facial swelling with accompanying redness and itching that began within a day of initiating treatment with rifaxim...

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Main Authors: Vikram Mahajan, Suman Singh, Priyanka Thakur, Amisha Kukreja, Rohit Negi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Medical Journal 2022-04-01
Series:European Medical Journal Dermatology
Online Access:https://www.emjreviews.com/dermatology/article/severe-sunburn-like-adverse-cutaneous-drug-reaction-in-a-patient-on-treatment-with-rifaximin-a-rare-case-of-acute-phototoxic-drug-reaction/
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author Vikram Mahajan
Suman Singh
Priyanka Thakur
Amisha Kukreja
Rohit Negi
author_facet Vikram Mahajan
Suman Singh
Priyanka Thakur
Amisha Kukreja
Rohit Negi
author_sort Vikram Mahajan
collection DOAJ
description This paper describes an unreported case of a rifaximin-induced phototoxic reaction in an otherwise healthy 24-year-old female (skin type: V). The patient developed malaise, chills, and facial swelling with accompanying redness and itching that began within a day of initiating treatment with rifaximin (200 mg twice daily), and progressively increased over the next 3–4 days. The patient revealed that they had been lying in the sun for hours due to the chills they were experiencing. Over the next 10 days they developed an exaggerated, acute, sunburn-like phototoxic reaction, with blistering over the exposed skin. A skin biopsy showed no evidence of vasculopathy, endothelial damage, or extravasation of red blood cells. The patient was treated successfully with oral prednisolone (30 mg per day for a week), topical mometasone furoate (0.1%) cream applied twice daily, levocetirizine (5 mg per day taken orally), zinc oxide (20.0%) cream applied every 3 hours during daytime, and strict sun avoidance. The possible pathomechanism of rifaximin-induced sunburn is also discussed here.
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spelling doaj.art-ebdb19b019f04198829b66fd5b7a53532023-12-12T16:56:38ZengEuropean Medical JournalEuropean Medical Journal Dermatology2054-62112022-04-0110.33590/emjdermatol/21-00233Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug ReactionVikram MahajanSuman SinghPriyanka ThakurAmisha KukrejaRohit Negi This paper describes an unreported case of a rifaximin-induced phototoxic reaction in an otherwise healthy 24-year-old female (skin type: V). The patient developed malaise, chills, and facial swelling with accompanying redness and itching that began within a day of initiating treatment with rifaximin (200 mg twice daily), and progressively increased over the next 3–4 days. The patient revealed that they had been lying in the sun for hours due to the chills they were experiencing. Over the next 10 days they developed an exaggerated, acute, sunburn-like phototoxic reaction, with blistering over the exposed skin. A skin biopsy showed no evidence of vasculopathy, endothelial damage, or extravasation of red blood cells. The patient was treated successfully with oral prednisolone (30 mg per day for a week), topical mometasone furoate (0.1%) cream applied twice daily, levocetirizine (5 mg per day taken orally), zinc oxide (20.0%) cream applied every 3 hours during daytime, and strict sun avoidance. The possible pathomechanism of rifaximin-induced sunburn is also discussed here.https://www.emjreviews.com/dermatology/article/severe-sunburn-like-adverse-cutaneous-drug-reaction-in-a-patient-on-treatment-with-rifaximin-a-rare-case-of-acute-phototoxic-drug-reaction/
spellingShingle Vikram Mahajan
Suman Singh
Priyanka Thakur
Amisha Kukreja
Rohit Negi
Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction
European Medical Journal Dermatology
title Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction
title_full Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction
title_fullStr Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction
title_full_unstemmed Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction
title_short Severe Sunburn-Like Adverse Cutaneous Drug Reaction in a Patient on Treatment with Rifaximin: A Rare Case of Acute Phototoxic Drug Reaction
title_sort severe sunburn like adverse cutaneous drug reaction in a patient on treatment with rifaximin a rare case of acute phototoxic drug reaction
url https://www.emjreviews.com/dermatology/article/severe-sunburn-like-adverse-cutaneous-drug-reaction-in-a-patient-on-treatment-with-rifaximin-a-rare-case-of-acute-phototoxic-drug-reaction/
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