TARGET LESIONS ON THE LIPS - CHILDHOOD HERPES-SIMPLEX ASSOCIATED WITHERYTHEMA-MULTIFORME MIMICS STEVENS-JOHNSON-SYNDROME

Erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome are both characterize d by areas of epithelial necrosis. An important clinical feature that distinguishes the two is the extensive mucosal necrosis in Steven-John son syndrome but not in erythema multiforme, Because significant and s erious complications may develop with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and not with erythema mutiforme, it is important to differentiate between the conditions, We describe three boys with herpes simplex virus-associat ed erythema multiforme who had severe necrosis of the lips develop and were initially diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The lip lesio ns were large target lesions of erythema multiforme rather than the ex tensive necrosis seen in Stevens-Johnson syndrome and all three had a benign course.