It is an uncommon disorder, with peak incidence in the second and third decades of life. The classic lesion is annular with a violaceous center and pink halo separated by. Description erythema multiforme appears on the skin and the mucous membranes the lining of the mouth, digestive tract, vagina, and other organs. Erythema multiforme em is an acute, immunemediated condition, most commonly induced by herpes simplex virus hsv infection, or by the use of certain medication and presents with cutaneous or. Erythema multiforme em is a type of cytotoxic dermatitis, which can be triggered by many factors. When seen in adults, it usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40, although it can happen to people of any age. Erythema multiforme em is an acute, selflimited, inflammatory cutaneous disorder caused by infection or drugs that is characterized by bulls eye lesions, blisters, and erythematous plaques on the skin fitzpatrick and bernhard 1987. The cause is unknown, but em frequently occurs in association with herpes simplex virus, suggesting an immunologic process initiated by the virus. Drug eruptions, erythema multiforme, stevensjohnson. Erythema multiforme mouth is a noted item of interest because it applies to erythema migrans photo, erythema migrans vs erythema multiforme, and erythema multiforme autoimmune.
A case report of erythema multiforme bangladesh journals online. Pdf erythema multiforme em is an acute, selfhealing inflammatory. Erythema multiforme is not indicative of a contagious disease and must not be mistaken as a sign of measles and other viral exanthems. Erythema multiforme definition of erythema multiforme by. An 11yearold boy had lesions in the oral cavity and lips, which had been diagnosed as erythema multiforme.
In half of the cases, the triggering agents appear to be medications, including anticonvulsants. Polycyclic target lesions with alternating rings of erythema and dusky desquamation on the arm. It presents with a skin eruption characterised by a typical target lesion. Erythema multiforme em is a skin condition of unknown cause. Although it is selflimiting, recurrences are common. Erythema multiforme inflammatory diseases online course.
It is acute and selflimiting, usually resolving without complications. Erythema multiforme em is a clinical conundrum, the name. Erythema multiforme is an acute mucocutaneous disorder, characterized by varying degrees of blistering and ulceration. Erythema multiforme majus significantly differed from stevensjohnson syndrome, overlap, and toxic epidermal necrolysis by occurrence in younger males, frequent recurrences, less fever, milder. Erythema multiforme em is an acute, selflimited, and sometimes recurring skin condition that is considered to be a type iv hypersensitivity. Erythema multiforme minor is the most frequent form and is generally mild, erythema multiforme major, while rare, can be lifethreatening.
Erythema multiforme an overview sciencedirect topics. In most cases, it occurs in response to an infection. Toxic epidermal necrolysis, manifested by widespread epidermal desquamation, is the most severe form of this disorder. The other two more severe disorders are stevensjohnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Erythema multiforme is a rare disorder that affects slightly more males than females. Sometimes, a person may also get the rash after taking medicine.
Target, or iris, lesions, with central clearing, are characteristic of this disorder. In more severe cases called erythema multiforme major, it can affect the lips and the inside of the mouth. Erythema multiforme caused by oral furosemide jama. Experts once believed that erythema multiforme em, stevensjohnson syndrome sjs, and toxic epidermal necrolysis ten were all one disease on a spectrum of severity, with em the mildest form and ten the most severe. Outcomesresolutions most erythema multiforme minor skin lesions often resolve in about 26 weeks. It causes a rash of spots with dark centers and pale red rings that look like a target or bullseye. Treatment of erythema multiforme, erythema multiforme. The rash that is associated with erythema multiforme will usually develop quickly and could be the only symptom that a person has with this medical condition. Erythema multiforme skin disorders merck manuals consumer. Erythema multiforme is a hypersensitivity reaction usually triggered by infections, most commonly herpes simplex virus hsv. Erythema multiforme pictures, treatment, causes, symptom. Erythema multiforme em refers to a group of hypersensitivity disorders characterized by symmetric red, patchy lesions, primarily on the arms and legs. This is a condition that is caused by an allergic reaction to medications or an inflammatory reaction to viruses and fungi. When involvement of the mucous membrane accompanies erythema multiforme bullosum, serious ocular sequelae may occur.
Herpes simplex infection is by far the most common etiologic agent. Erythema multiforme is a skin reaction that can be triggered by an infection or some medicines. Erythema multiforme em is an acute skin reaction that comes from an infection or another trigger. Ferrils treatment plans are designed to be shared with other providers as educational advice only. Erythema multiforme is part of a group of 3 related skin disorders and it is the mildest of the three. In rare cases, it is caused by certain medicines or bodywide.
Abstract erythema multiforme em is an uncommon, immune. Erythema multiforme is a selfhealing disease, with an average duration of about 2 weeks. Erythema multiforme symptoms, diagnosis, treatments and. Erythema multiforme pictures, treatment, symptoms, causes. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of erythema multiforme is. Erythema multiforme may be a mild condition erythema multiforme minor, or it may be a severe, possibly lifethreatening condition. It may begin at any age, but is most common in children and young adults.
An allergic inflammatory skin disorder which has a variety of causes and results in skin and mucous membrane lesions that affect mainly the hands, forearms, feet, mouth nose and genitals. These lesions are often accompanied by erosions or bullae involving the oral, genital, andor ocular mucosae picture 2ac. Jun 18, 2018 erythema multiforme em is a rare skin disorder that mainly affects children. Erythema multiforme manifests as the sudden onset of asymptomatic, erythematous macules, papules, wheals, vesicles, bullae, or a combination on the distal extremities often including palms and soles and face. Management of erythema multiforme associated with recurrent. Nov 14, 2011 erythema multiforme em refers to a group of hypersensitivity disorders characterized by symmetric red, patchy lesions, primarily on the arms and legs.
Multiforme polymorphic first classified by bastuji garin et al to separate from sjs ten in 1922 described by hebra in 1866 as. Erythema multiforme is an acute skin condition characterized by targetoid lesions and occurs most frequently in young adults, particularly males. Feb 20, 2020 erythema multiforme em is an acute, selflimited, and sometimes recurring skin condition that is considered to be a type iv hypersensitivity reaction associated with certain infections, medications, and other various triggers. Erythema multiforme airuhtheemuh multehformee starts with pink or red blotches. Finally, a wide variety of drugs, most commonly the sulfonamides, may cause this syndrome.
Erythema multiforme em is an acute, immunemediated condition characterized by the appearance of distinctive targetlike lesions on the skin picture 1ah. Erythema multiforme major is the term used to describe em with severe mucosal involvement and. Medicinenet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Erythema multiforme is a hypersensitivity reaction to an infection or, in some cases, a medicine. Target lesions vesiculobullous disorder download this article as. Theres also a rare, severe form that can affect the mouth, genitals and eyes and can be lifethreatening. No, erythema multiforme itself is not a contagious disease. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of erythema multiforme is available below. Granular c3 and igm at basement membrane and in vessels. These lesions appear suddenly on the legs, arms, palms, hands, feet, and inside the mouth. Erythema multiforme, stevensjohnson syndrome, toxic.
Erythema multiforme is a skin condition considered to be a hypersensitivity reaction to infections or. Erythema multiforme for parents nemours kidshealth. Ferril has spoken at numerous conferences for doctors. Not all cases of erythema multiforme em can be prevented, especially if the offending agent is not apparent or remains unknown. More recently, however efforts to link disease morphology with cause have led to reconsideration of that dogma. Erythema multiforme em is a rare skin disorder that mainly affects children. Treatment of erythema multiforme is a common skin disorder consisting of targetlike circular lesions. Erythema multiforme introduction and epidemiology erythema multiforme em is an acute, immunemediated condition, most commonly induced by herpes simplex virus hsv infection, or by the use of medications, such as phenytoin, sulfonamides, penicillins, and barbiturates. Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of erythema multiforme. Erythema is a common side effect of radiotherapy treatment due to patient exposure to ionizing radiation.
Erythema multiforme is a cutaneous reaction pattern manifested by welldemarcated plaques on the trunk and extremities. The rash usually starts off looking like pink or red blotches that develop over a few days into round shapes that look like targets with red, pink, and pale rings. Erythema multiforme may be a mild condition erythema multiforme minor, or it may be a severe, possibly lifethreatening condition erythema multiforme major or stevensjohnson syndrome. Dec 01, 2006 erythema multiforme usually occurs in adults 20 to 40 years of age,6 although it can occur in patients of all ages. In the second case, no histopathologic findings were presented by the author. Erythema multiforme american academy of family physicians. Stevensjohnson syndrome sjs is a rare, immunemediated, skin reaction that results in blistering of skin and extensive epidermal detachment. Examples of erythema not associated with pathology include nervous blushes. There is no temperature elevation, unless it is associated with the dilation of arteries in the deeper layer of the skin. This means it usually resolves on its own without treatment. Of 162 previously reported cases of erythema multiforme with mucosal involvement, the eyes were affected in 148. Erythema multiforme nord national organization for rare. Two cases of erythema multiforme secondary to furosemide have been reported in the past. We report a case of recurrent herpesassociated erythema multiforme managed with prophylactic acyclovir.
Pdf on sep 6, 2017, rakhi issrani and others published. Usually, the diagnosis can be made on the basis of the size, shape, color and distribution of the target lesions. Erythema multiforme genetic and rare diseases information. Use of the terminology em minor and em major is a reasonable approach to separating the classical mild cutaneous syndrome, as described by hebra em minor, from the usually more severe. Em minor, a mild allergic reaction, occurs most commonly. See also introduction to hypersensitivity reactions and inflammatory skin disorders. He has also provided dozens of columns for medical newsletters. This reaction causes red, targetshaped or bullseye patches or sores on the skin.
Started in 1995, this collection now contains 6769 interlinked topic pages divided into a tree of 31 specialty books and 732 chapters. Pathogenesis of erythema multiforme is a commonly identified supplication in light of the fact that it is of interest when evaluating erythema multiforme lips, erythema multiforme mouth, and erythema multiforme prednisone. Erythema multiforme em adalah merupakan suatu penyakit akut dari kulit dan membran mukosa yang dapat menyebabkan beberapa jenis lesi kulit, karenanya dinamakan multiforme greenberg,2003. Erythema multiforme is an acute, selflimited inflammatory disorder of the skin and mucous membranes with a characteristic histopathology, a tendency for. Penyakit ini merupakan suatu reaksi hipersensitivitas, yang karakteristik dengan adanya lesi target pada kulit atau lesi ulserasi pada mukosa. Erythema multiforme is an acute inflammatory skin disease where 90% of the minor cases follow outbreaks of herpes simplex. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation. Erythema multiforme is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by patches of red, raised skin that often look like targets and usually are distributed symmetrically over the body. Stevensjohnson syndrome knowledge for medical students.
Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, or visit the webmasters page for free fun content. Mild forms of erythema multiforme usually get better in 2 6 weeks, but they may return. The patient presents weeks after exposure to a medication with fever and other flulike symptoms. Erythema multiforme em, in its modern definition, is an acute, selflimited syndrome with distinctive skin lesions with or without mucosal lesions. Erythema multiforme major this is the form that is more severe. Erythema multiforme mainly affects adults under 40. The ocular picture varied from mild mucopurulent conjunctivitis to. Erythema from the greek erythros, meaning red is redness of the skin or mucous membranes, caused by hyperemia increased blood flow in superficial capillaries. It is an uncommon disorder, with peak incidence in. Multiforme polymorphic first classified by bastuji garin et al to separate from sjs ten in 1922 described by hebra in 1866 as erythema exudativum multiforme 122920. However, these may return or recur in over 30% of the individuals. Erythema disappears on finger pressure, while purpura or bleeding in the skin and pigmentation do not. Some spots can have a small blister or scab in the middle.
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