Stevens Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis and erythema exsudativum multiforme

In the past, definition and name giving of erythema exsudativum multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been confusing. However, after a consensus classification, which separates erythema exsudativum multiforme from Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, it is now generally accepted that Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are variants within a continuous spectrum of severe, potentially fatal, mucocutaneous, mainly adverse drug reactions, whereas erythema exsudativum multiforme is a distinct, generally more mild entity with different clinical signs, mainly precipitated by infections e.g. herpes simplex virus.</p