STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME

On May 26, late Amina went to a chemist and after telling the chemist what was wrong with her ,he prescribed Septrin and other drugs. After about two hours of taking septrin, Amina lips and tongue got  swollen and her eyes became red. Amina returned to the chemist the next day to complain of her reaction to the drug.

‘‘I followed her to the chemist and we met him in his shop. He said Amina was developing symptoms of chicken pox and that she would need to be placed on injection and other drugs to fight the ailment. We heeded his advice, believing he was an expert in health matters,” her mother said.

“Immediately she completed her injection doses, things got out of hand. My beautiful daughter changed into someone I could not recognise. Her face turned black as if she got burnt. Her health also deteriorated daily,” she said.

WHAT IS STEVEN JOHNSON SYNDROME

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare, serious disorder of your skin and mucous membranes. It's usually a reaction to a medication or an infection. Often, Stevens-Johnson syndrome begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters. Then the top layer of the affected skin dies and sheds.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a medical emergency that usually requires hospitalization. Treatment focuses on eliminating the underlying cause, controlling symptoms and minimizing complications.

SYMPTOMS OF STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME

SJS usually starts with fever and feeling like you have the flu. A few days later, other symptoms appear including:

• Facial swelling
• Tongue swelling
• Hives
• Skin pain
• A red or purple skin rash that spreads within hours to days
• Blisters on your skin and the mucous membranes of your mouth, nose, eyes and genitals
• Shedding of your skin

CAUSES OF STEVENS-JOHNSON SYNDROME

MEDICATION CAUSES

More than 100 drugs can cause SJS. Some of the most common are:

• Medicines for gout, a painful form of arthritis -- especially allopurinol
• Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (panadol), ibuprofen and Naproxen sodium 
• Sulfa antibiotics,a  kind of drug that fights infections -septrin.

• Medicines that treat seizures and mental illness

INFECTION CAUSES

Infections that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:

• Herpes (herpes simplex or herpes zoster)
• Pneumonia
• HIV
• HepatitisHepatitis

PREVENTION

If you've had Stevens-Johnson syndrome and your doctor told you it was caused by a medication, avoid that drug and others like it. This is key to preventing a recurrence, which is usually more severe than the first episode and can be fatal.Your family members also might want to avoid this drug because some forms of this condition have a genetic risk factor.

Rush to the hospital if you notice any of the symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, do not self-medicate!!

Photo source: www.punchng.com

REFERENCES

www.medscape.com

www.webmd.com

www.mayoclinic.com