Fixed Drug Eruption Due to Ornidazole - A Case Report

Fixed Drug Eruption (FDE) is classified as cutaneous drug reaction which recurs in the same locations upon systemic administration of the same drug. Vesicles and bullae may sometimes be found, and in some cases even these are confused with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). A male patient, 62 years old, developed FDE with the use of ornidazole. On physical examination the lesions developed blisters and violaceous patches all over the body. On further enquiry he had developed similar four episodes earlier. The patient’s lesions improved after discontinuation of ornidazole and with proper supportive therapy, steroids and antihistaminic. On drug rechallenge test, ornidazole was found to be causing FDE. He was advised to avoid ornidazole in future.