title: Diagnosis of herpes simplex virus-induced erythema multiforme confounded by previous infection with Mycoplasma pneumonia.
abstract: Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction often related to viral infection or medications. Infection-induced EM is typically self-limited and commonly caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) or Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP); recurrent EM is almost always associated with HSV. We present a concise overview of diagnostic techniques for HSV and MP, as repeatedly elevated MP titers in our case led to a delayed diagnosis of HSV-induced EM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA. barryladizinski@gmail.com
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ladizinski
authors.forename: Joi B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Kachiu C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aaron
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012008:Recurrence; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification