| 释义 |
erythema multiforme
Thesaurus| Noun | 1. | erythema multiforme - a red rash caused by hypersensitivity to a drug or disease or other allergenerythema - abnormal redness of the skin resulting from dilation of blood vessels (as in sunburn or inflammation) |
Translationserythema multiforme
erythema multiforme[‚er·ə′thē·mə ‚məl·tə′fȯr‚mē] (medicine) An acute inflammatory skin disease characterized by red macules, papules, or tubercles on the extremities, neck, and face. erythema multiforme
Erythema Multiforme DefinitionErythema multiforme is a skin disease that causes lesions and redness around the lesions.DescriptionErythema multiforme appears on the skin and the mucous membranes (the lining of the mouth, digestive tract, vagina, and other organs). Large, symmetrical red blotches appear all over the skin in a circular pattern. On mucous membranes, it begins as blisters and progresses to ulcers. A more advanced form, called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, can be severe and even fatal.Causes and symptomsErythema multiforme has many causes, most commonly are drugs. Penicillin, sulfonamides, certain epilepsy drugs, aspirin, and acetaminophen are the most likely medication-induced causes. Erythema multiforme can also be caused by certain diseases. Herpes virus and mycoplasma pneumonia are likely infectious causes.DiagnosisThe appearance of the rash is sufficiently unique to identify it on sight. Having identified it, the physician will determine the underlying cause.TreatmentErythema multiforme is inadvertently treated when the causative agent, whether it be a drug or a disease, is treated. In severe cases, cortisone-like medication is often used along with general supportive measures and prevention of infection.PrognosisAs a rule, the rash abates by itself without damaging the skin. Only in the case of infection, severe blistering, or continued use of an offending drug does complications occur.ResourcesBooksFauci, Anthony S., et al., editors. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.Key termsHerpes virus — Viruses that can infect the skin, mucous membranes, and brain, and they are responsible for such diseases as herpes simplex, chicken pox, and shingles.Mycoplasma pneumonia — An incomplete bacterium that infects the lung.erythema [er″ĭ-the´mah] redness of the skin caused by congestion of the capillaries in the lower layers of the skin. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation.erythema chro´nicum mi´grans a ring-shaped erythema due to the bite of a tick of the genus Ixodes; it begins as an erythematous plaque several weeks after the bite and spreads peripherally with central clearing. Often there are also systemic symptoms, including chills, fever, headache, vomiting, backache, and stiff neck. See also lyme disease.gyrate erythema (erythema gyra´tum) erythema multiforme characterized by the development of lesions that tend to migrate and spread peripherally with central clearing.erythema ab ig´ne permanent erythema produced by prolonged exposure to excessive nonburning heat. It is seen most often on the legs of women, but under appropriate environmental circumstances, it can occur anywhere on the body in either sex.erythema indura´tum a chronic necrotizing vasculitis, usually occurring on the calves of young women; see also bazin's disease.erythema infectio´sum a mild, self-limiting disease of childhood characterized by a lacelike skin rash symmetrically distributed on the hands, arms, and legs, with few or no other symptoms; occasionally there is a low grade fever, and the condition often clears up without specific treatment. The incubation period is six days to two weeks. This disease is contagious and originally was believed to be a form of rubella; because the rash can resemble that of scarlet fever and German measles, it is important to differentiate this mild condition from those more serious ones. Called also fifth disease.erythema margina´tum a type of erythema multiforme in which the reddened areas are disk-shaped, with elevated edges.erythema margina´tum rheuma´ticum a superficial, often asymptomatic, form of gyrate erythema associated with some cases of rheumatic fever, which is characterized by the presence on the trunk and extensor surfaces of the extremities of a transient eruption of flat to slightly indurated, nonscaling, and usually multiple lesions.erythema mi´grans geographic tongue.erythema multifor´me a symptom complex representing a reaction of the skin and mucous membranes secondary to various known, suspected, and unknown factors, including infections, ingestants, physical agents, malignancy, and pregnancy. The conditions in the complex are characterized by the sudden onset of a reddened macular, bullous, papular, or vesicular eruption, the characteristic lesion being the iris, bull's eye, or target lesion, which consists of a central papule with two or more concentric rings. The complex includes a mild self-limited mucocutaneous form (erythema multiforme minor) and a severe, sometimes fatal, multisystem form (stevens-johnson syndrome).erythema nodo´sum a type of panniculitis occurring usually as a hypersensitivity reaction to multiple provoking agents, including various infections, drugs, sarcoidosis, and certain enteropathies. It may also be of idiopathic origin. It most often affects young women and is characterized by the development of crops of transient, inflammatory, nonulcerating nodules that are usually tender, multiple, and bilateral, and most commonly located on the shins; the lesions involute slowly, leaving bruiselike patches without scarring. The acute disease is often associated with fever, malaise, and arthralgias. A chronic variant sometimes occurs without any serious associated systemic disease.toxic erythema (erythema tox´icum) a generalized erythematous or erythematomacular eruption due to administration of a drug or to bacterial or other toxins or associated with various systemic diseases.erythema tox´icum neonato´rum a benign, idiopathic, very common, generalized, transient eruption occurring in infants during the first week of life, usually consisting of small papules or pustules that become sterile, yellow-white, firm vesicles surrounded by an erythematous halo and some edema.er·y·the·ma mul·ti·for·mean acute eruption of macules, papules, or subepidermal vesicles presenting a multiform appearance, the characteristic lesion being the target or iris lesion over the dorsal aspect of the hands and forearms; its origin may be allergic, including drug sensitivity, or it may be caused by herpes simplex infection; the eruption, although usually self-limited (for example, multiforme minor), may be recurrent or may run a severe course, sometimes with fatal termination (for example, multiforme major or Stevens-Johnson syndrome).er·y·the·ma mul·ti·for·me (er'i-thē'mă mŭl-ti-fōr'mē) An acute eruption of macules, papules, or subdermal vesicles presenting a multiform appearance, the characteristic lesion being the target or iris form of lesion over the dorsal aspect of the hands and forearms; its origin may be allergic, seasonal, or from drug sensitivity, and the eruption, although usually self limited, may be recurrent or may run a severe course, sometimes with fatal termination (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
Synonym(s): herpes iris (2) .  ERYTHEMA MULTIFORMEerythema multiforme Abbreviation: EM
A rash usually caused by an immune response to drugs or to an infection, esp. herpes simplex virus. It may express itself on the skin in multiform ways, including macules, papules, blisters, hives, and, characteristically, iris or target lesions. It may involve the palms and soles, the mucous membranes, the face, and the extremities. The disease is usually self-limited. The most severe (and occasionally fatal) variant of the illness, in which the eyes, mouth, and internal organs are involved, is called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or toxic epidermal necrolysis. Synonym: Hebra disease (1.) See: illustrationSee also: erythemaerythema multiforme A hypersensitivity disorder featuring red, raised skin eruptions of various sizes and shapes (‘multiforme’) occurring symmetrically on the face, neck, forearms, backs of the hands, and legs. It is associated with drug and other allergies, many infections and pregnancy.Hebra, Ferdinand von, Austrian dermatologist, 1816-1880. Hebra disease - an acute eruption of macules, papules, or subdermal vesicles presenting a multiform appearance. Synonym(s): erythema multiforme; familial nonhemolytic jaundiceHebra prurigo - a severe form of chronic dermatitis with secondary infection. Synonym(s): prurigo agria; prurigo feroxerythemamultiformeA mucocutaneous disease that occurs as a hypersensitivity to drugs (e.g. sulfonamides) or as a consequence of infection. The condition, which principally affects young people, is characterized by the sudden appearance of various erosions of the mucous membranes and epidermis. A common complication is conjunctivitis, which may become severe with cicatrization, abnormal lid margin function, symblepharon, corneal ulceration and vascularization and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The patient complains of pain, discharge, photophobia and reduced vision if the cornea is involved. Treatment includes cleansing of the eyelids with antibiotic ointment and, if severe, topical steroids. Syn. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (although this term applies to the severe form of the disease). See Stevens-Johnson syndrome.FinancialSeeEmerythema multiforme
Related to erythema multiforme: Erythema migrans, erythema marginatum, erythema multiforme majorWords related to erythema multiformenoun a red rash caused by hypersensitivity to a drug or disease or other allergenRelated Words |