Erythema multiforme and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: report and discussion of a case presenting with stomatitis

A case report is presented in which a respiratory tract infection with M. pneumoniae appears to have provoked a generalised mucocutaneous disease, described as Stevens Johnson syndrome. The patient possessed complement-fixing antibodies to M. pneumoniae to a titre of 1/2048 compared with the general population titre of 1/32. The oral mucosal lesions are described in particular and a likely pathogenesis of erythema multiforme is discussed.