Medications that may cause rashes in children

Many medications can cause a rash. Some of the more common medications that cause rashes are:

• Antibiotics, such as penicillin, cephalosporins, sulfonamides, or vancomycin.
• Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.
• Barbiturates, such as amobarbital or pentobarbital.
• Blood and blood products.
• Complementary and alternative medications, such as echinacea.
• Contrast dyes used in X-ray studies.
• Nitrofurantoin, such as Furadantin, Furalan, or Furatoin.
• Pain medications that contain codeine and codeine-like compounds.
• Seizure medications, such as carbamazepine or valproate.

If a rash occurs after your child has begun a new medication:

• Stop giving the medication to your child.
• Call the health professional who prescribed or recommended the medication to determine if another medication needs to be prescribed.