Exceptionally a mild ointment, alone or supplementary to a lotion, acts more satisfactorily.
In persistent or obstinate cases attention should also be directed to the state of the general health, especially as regards the digestive tract.
Erythema multiforme is an acute, inflammatory disease, characterized by reddish, more or less variegated macules, papules, and tubercles, occurring as discrete lesions or in patches of various size and shape.
#Upon what parts of the body does the eruption appear?#
Usually upon the extremities, especially the dorsal aspect, from the knees and elbows down, and about the face and neck; it may, however, be more or less general.
#Describe the symptoms of erythema multiforme.#
With or without precursory symptoms of malaise, gastric uneasiness or rheumatic pains, the eruption suddenly makes its appearance, assuming an erythematous, papular, tubercular or mixed character; as a rule, one type of lesion predominates. The lesions tend to increase in size and intensity, remain stationary for several days or a week, and then gradually fade; during this time there may have been outbreaks of new lesions. In color they are pink, red, or violaceous. Slight itching may or may not be present. Exceptionally, in general cases, the eruption partakes of the nature of both urticaria and erythema multiforme, and itching may be quite a decided symptom. In some instances there is preceding and accompanying febrile action, usually slight in character; in others there may be some rheumatic swelling of one or more joints.
[Illustration: Fig. 11. Erythema Multiforme, in which many of the lesions have become bullous--Erythema Bullosum.]
#What type of the eruption is most common?#
The papular, appearing usually upon the backs of the hands and forearms, and not infrequently, also, upon the face, legs and feet. The papules are usually pea-sized, flattened, and of a dark red or violaceous color.
#Describe the various shapes which the erythematous lesions may assume.#
Often the patches are distinctly ring-shaped, with a clear centre--_erythema annulare_; or they are made up of several concentric rings, presenting variegated coloring--_erythema iris_; or a more or less extensive patch may spread with a sharply-defined border, the older part tending to fade--_erythema marginatum_; or several rings may coalesce, with a disappearance of the coalescing parts, and serpentine lines or bands result--_erythema gyratum_.