A Case Report on Ciprofloxacin Induced Erythema Multiforme

Erythema multiforme (EM) is typically mild, self-limiting, and recurring mucocutaneous reaction characterized by target or iris lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. EM usually affects healthy young adults and the peak age at presentation is 20–40 years although as many as 20% of cases are children. It is a reactive mucocutaneous disorder that comprises variants ranging from a self-limited, mild, exanthematous, cutaneous variant with minimal oral involvement (EM minor) to a progressive, fulminating, severe variant with extensive mucocutaneous epithelial necrosis. Erythema multiforme is probably an immunologically mediated process. The current classification of EM and related disorders is based upon the presence, morphology, and extent of cutaneous and mucosal disease. The cutaneous lesions of erythema multiforme comprise typical targets, raised atypical targets, flat atypical targets, and macules with or without blisters. The typical primary lesion of EM is a round, erythematous macule that rapidly becomes papular or urticarial. EM is also considered to be a hypersensitivity reaction associated with certain infections and medications. Ciprofloxacin is one of the widely used antibiotics in respiratory and urinary tract infections. Ciprofloxacin triggers the immunologic derangement and causes erythema multiforme. In this article, we present a case of ciprofloxacin induced erythema multiforme in 33 year old man.