[Erythema multiforme in children versus Stevens-Johnson syndrome]

30 children treated between 1984-98 for erythema multiforme (versus SJS) in Department of Allergology at the Children's Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw. 25 children suffered from erythema multiforme minor and 5 suffered from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Before symptoms of the illness 13 children had been treated with antibiotics and 27 children demonstrated different symptoms of infections, mostly viral. Drug therapies and viral or bacterial infections probably induce symptoms in patients susceptible to erythema multiforme or severe versus Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

1. Erythema multiforme (EM) rather seldom occurs in children. The Most commonly its course is benign (EM minor). In another type of erythema multiforme--Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (EM major), in which mucous membranes are involved, the course of disease and the prognosis are always severe. 2. Both viral and bacterial infections as well as administered drugs play the important role in the etiopathogenesis of erythema multiforme. 3. The treatment of erythema multiforme in children is symptomatic (general and local). In Stevens-Johnson Syndrome early administration of glicocorticoids is recommended. Children with bacterial infection (contagion, contamination) should be treated with antibiotic.