An observational study on the spectrum of cutaneous adverse reactions to antitubercular drugs and their management

Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health issue, ranking as the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. Management of tuberculosis requires administration of multiple drugs for varied duration which increases the risk of developing adverse reactions. Among various adverse reactions are cutaneous adverse reactions (CARs) which can be immune mediated or non immune mediated. Aim 1. To study the clinical, epidemiological, and morphological characteristics of cutaneous adverse reactions resulting from antitubercular treatment. 2. To study the outcomes of cutaneous adverse reactions to antitubercular therapy using the Modified Hartwig and Seigel severity assessment scale and rechallenge protocol, and assess the effectiveness of management strategies. Method ology: A longitudinal observational study was conducted over a period of 1 year at department of Pulmonology and Dermatology at tertiary care institute to assess CARs in patients on antitubercular treatment. Rechallenge was done in eligible patients. Results Among 3164 TB patients on anti-tubercular treatment (ATT), 56 developed CARs, yielding an incidence rate of 1.77% per year. The study found female preponderance, with the most affected age groups being 21-30 and 41-50 years. Most CARs occurred within the first 30 days of ATT initiation, predominantly manifesting as maculopapular rash. Factors such as multiple medication use, diabetes, elderly age, and positive HIV status were associated with CARs. Ethambutol was identified as the most frequently implicated drug in the occurrence of cutaneous adverse reactions (CARs) upon rechallenge. Conclusion Effective management of CARs involves appropriate treatment, careful monitoring, and rechallenge protocols to identify culprit drugs while minimizing the risk of severe reactions.Upon complete resolution of initial adverse reaction, one must do rechallenge meticulously to pinpoint culprit drug and ensuring effective tuberculosis treatment.