Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Erythema Multiforme-Oral Variant: Case Report and Review of Literature

  • Clinical Report
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an interesting dermatologic disease which has oral manifestations. EM is clinically characterized by a “minor” form and a “major” form. It presents a diagnostic dilemma because the oral cavity has the ability to produce varied manifestations. Infections (particularly herpes simplex and mycoplasma pneumonia) and drugs seem to predispose toward the development of EM. The range of possible etiologies for oral disease is immense. Therefore, an otolaryngologist or a dentist while treating such patients should have a differential diagnosis for all oral lesions. We report a case of erythema multiforme in which alcohol (ethanol) seems to be the precipitating factor and have also reviewed the English literature in the present context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Abbreviations

VZV:

Varicella zoster virus

EBV:

Epstein bar virus

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

BCG:

Bacillus calmette guerette

References

  1. Siegel MA, Balciunas BA (1994) Oral presentation and management of vesiculobullous disorders. Semin Dermatol 13:78–86

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Al-Johani KA, Fedele S, Porter SR (2007) Erythema multiforme and related disorders. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 103:642–654

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ayangco L, Rogers RS 3rd (2003) Oral manifestations of erythema multiforme. Dermatol Clin 21:195–205

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Al-Ubaidy SS, Nally FF (1976) Erythema multiforme: Review of twenty six cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 41:601–606

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kenett S (1968) Erythema multiforme affecting the oral cavity. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 25:366–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gebel K, Hornestein OP (1984) Drug induced oral erythema multiforme: Results of a long term retrospective study. Dermatologica 168:35–40

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Drago F, Parodi A, Rebora A et al (1995) Persistent erythema mutiforme: Report of two new cases and review of literature. J Am Acad Dermatol 33:366–369

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Carrozzo M, Togliatto M, Gandolfo S (1999) Eritema multiforme. Un fenotipo alterations in the HSV-specific T-cell response. Br J Dermatol 138:952–964

    Google Scholar 

  9. Schofield JK, Tatnall FM, Leigh IM (1993) Recurrent erythema multiforme: clinical features and treatment in a large series of patients. Br J Dermatol 128:542–545

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kokuba H, Imafuku S, Huang S et al (1998) Erythema multiforme lesions are associated with expression of a herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene and qualitative alterations in the HSV-specific T-cell response. Br J Dermatol 138:952–964

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lemak MA, Duvic M, Bean SF (1986) Oral acyclovir for the prevention of herpes associated erythema multiforme. J Am Acad Dermatol 15:50–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Farthing P, Bagan JV, Scully C (2005) Mucosal disease series number IV. Erythema multiforme. Oral Dis 11:261–267

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Abdollahi M, Radfar M (2003) A review of drug-induced oral reactions. J Contemp Dent Pract 3:10–31

    Google Scholar 

  14. Scully C, Bagan JV (2004) Adverse drug reactions in the orofacial region. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med 15:221–239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Imafuku S, Kokuba H, Aurelian L et al (1997) Expression of herpes simplex virus DNA fragments located in epidermal keratinocytes and germinative cells is associated with the development of erythema multiforme lesions. J Invest Dermatol 109:550–556

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Knowles SR, Uetrecht J, Sheas NH (2000) Idiosyncratic drug reactions: the reactive metabolite syndromes. Lancet 356:1587–1591

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Howland WW, Golitz LE, Weston WL et al (1989) Erythema multiforme: clinical, histopathologic, and immunologic study. J Am Acad Dermatol 113:36–39

    Google Scholar 

  18. Aurelian L, Ono F, Burnett J (2003) Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-associated erythema multiforme (HAEM): a viral disease with an autoimmune component. Dermatol Online J 9:1

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Stewart MG, Duncan III NO, Franklin DJ et al (1994) Head and neck manifestations of erythema multiforme in children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 111:236–242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adesh Hospital and Research Centre, Kotkapura road, Muktsar, 152026, India

    Parvinderjit S. Kohli & Jasbir Kaur

Authors
  1. Parvinderjit S. Kohli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jasbir Kaur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Parvinderjit S. Kohli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kohli, P.S., Kaur, J. Erythema Multiforme-Oral Variant: Case Report and Review of Literature. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 63 (Suppl 1), 9–12 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0169-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0169-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation