Mucosal fixed drug eruption in a patient treated with ornidazole.

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic drugs have been observed to cause a wide spectrum of adverse oral effects such as dry mouth, gingival enlargement, taste disturbance, oral mucosal ulceration, halitosis, etc.

OBSERVATIONS: A rare case of intra-oral fixed drug eruption (FDE) induced by ornidazole presenting on the hard palate, an extremely rare site for FDE, in a 40-year-old male is reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Ornidazole is a relatively newer 5-nitroimidazole derivative commonly prescribed for Amoebic dysentery in developing countries. FDE is a rare adverse drug effect characterized by onset of round/oval, erythematous macules on the skin or mucosa that can be associated with itching and burning sensation. The exact mechanism causing FDE is unknown.