A STUDY ON DRUG PRESCRIPTION PATTERN IN ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS AT TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

BACKGROUND: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. Appropriate and effective drug therapy can ensure immense therapeutic benefit in patients suffering from ACD. The study was carried out to find out prescribing pattern in ACD at a tertiary care teaching hospital in south India. METHODOLOGY: Patients of allergic contact dermatitis who attended Dermatology outpatient department of KVG Medical College and hospital were the subjects of study. Prescription patterns and other relevant findings were recorded in proforma for analysis and interpretation of data. RESULTS: 209 patients of ACD were included in the study group. Topical corticosteroids and antibiotics were prescribed as monotherapy and polytherapy. Corticosteroides, antibiotics, antihistaminics were prescribed as systemic monotherapy and polytherapy. Statistical analysis revealed p-value was >0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription patterns were in consensus with the general guidelines, with few changes perhaps, in the choice of established therapeutic agents.