A case of erythema multiforme associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus infection

We present a case of primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection with erythema multiforme. A 1-year-old Japanese boy presented with skin eruptions, including typical target lesions and a low-grade fever. Just before the skin biopsy, 95 copies/μg DNA of EBV genome was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which subsequently increased to 6,834 copies/μg DNA. Skin tissue collected from the skin lesion showed the typical pathologic findings of erythema multiforme. EBV-encoded small nuclear RNA signals were not detected in the skin tissue by in situ hybridization.