ASSOCIATION OF PNEUMONIA WITH ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME EXUDATIVUM

Abstract

THE BENIGN form of erythema multiforme exudativum (Hebra) is a familar condition in medical practice.¹Less common, but by no means rare, is the severe form of erythema multiforme exudativum with predominant involvement of the mucous membranes.²Case reports describing the latter condition have appeared with increasing frequency in recent years. The earlier impression was that patients showing predominant involvement of the mucous membranes were severely ill but rarely died. It is now apparent that such illnesses vary widely in severity, from mild to fatal. Whether or not the symptom complex to be described is merely a severe type of the benign afebrile form of erythema multiforme exudativum, which involves the skin primarily, is unknown. The present report deals with a description of 6 cases of erythema multiforme exudativum with predominant involvement of the mucous membranes of the mouth, seen at the Regional Station Hospital at Fort Bragg,