Erythema Multiforme Vs. Hives
Erythema multiforme is a skin disorder brought on by either an allergic reaction, usually to a medication, or from an infection such as herpes or mycoplasma. Erythema multiforme minor is usually mild, while erythema multiforme major (or Stevens-Johnson syndrome) is often severe and typically caused by medications.
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Identification
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Hives, also known as urticaria, are swellings on the skin that often are itchy and are caused by histamine creating leaks from capillaries, which in turn create the hives or swellings. Hives can be triggered by a variety of things, but often are an allergic reaction.
Features
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Besides hives or blisters, which typically appear on the upper body, arms, legs, palms, hands, feet, and possibly the face or lips, erythema multiforme symptoms include fever, itching, general malaise and aching joints. Eye involvement may occur, such as bloodshot appearance, dryness, burning, itching or discharge, vision abnormalities, and pain.
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Diagnosing
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Early onset of erythema multiforme can be difficult to to differentiate from hives; however, with erythema multiforme the lesions are present for a week and may develop bulls-eye patterns, while hives typically are present for 24 hours. Hives do not have a center that differs in appearance, as with erythema multiforme skin lesions, and other symptoms develop with erythema multiforme.
Function
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With erythema multiforme, most cases are mild and require no treatment. If the cause was a drug reaction, discontinuing the medication is often all that's required, while some cases may require topical steroids and oral antihistamines.Treatment for hives is typically an antihistamine.
Risk Factors
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Most often, those diagnosed with erythema multiforme are between 20 and 40 years of age, and if medication is to blame, the drugs most often associated with the disorder are barbiturates, penicillin, phenytoin and sulfonamides.
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