[Skin side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics and so-called minor analgesics. Report from the Berne Comprehensive Hospital Monitor].

9118 of 19,653 inpatients of two internal medicine divisions were treated with analgesics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs including minor analgesics (NSAID). In the first part of the study all generalized skin reactions (gsr) considered to be probably or definitely due to a drug were evaluated clinically. In 23 out of 91 patients with a drug induced skin reaction, this was judged to be mainly related to an NSAID drug rather than any other drug (= 0.3% of patients exposed to an NSAID). The 26 reactions of the 23 patients were as follows: 15 maculo-papular exanthemas, 6 urticarias, 2 angioedema, 2 serum sickness syndromes and 1 erythema nodosum. In the second part we did statistical calculations only on the basis of the time/exposure relationship to ascertain the rate of gsr with chemotherapeutics and antibiotics (group B), with NSAID including minor analgesics (group A) and with all other drugs. 10.8% occurred with B, 1.8% with A without B and 0.9% without A and without B. The difference between 1.8% (A without B) and 0.9% (neither A nor B) is significant (p less than 0.05).