Erythema multiforme

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Erythema multiforme on the hands

Erythema multiforme, circular lesions - hands

Erythema multiforme, target lesions on the palm

Erythema multiforme on the leg

Erythema multiforme on the hand

Exfoliation following erythroderma

Erythema multiforme

Alternative Names:

Lyell's syndrome; Stevens-Johnson syndrome; Toxic epidermal necrolysis
Symptoms:

Multiple skin lesions:
- With sudden onset, which may recur
- That may spread
- That may appear as nodule, papule, or macule
- Central lesion surrounded by concentric rings of paleness and redness, also called "target", "iris", or "bull's eye"
- May have vesicles and bullae (blisters of various sizes)
- Located on the legs, arms, palms, hands, or feet
- May involve the face or lips
- Trunk is usually not involved
- Usually symmetrical
Itching of the skin may be present
Fever
General ill feeling
Joint aches

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Signs and tests:

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The diagnosis is primarily based on the appearance of the skin lesion and its typical symmetrical distribution, especially if there is a history of risk factors or associated diseases.

There may be a positive Nikolsky's sign.

A skin lesion biopsy and microscopic examination may be helpful to differentiate erythema multiforme from other disorders. Erythema multiforme may show tissue death and other changes. Microscopic examination of the tissue may also show antibody deposits.