Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare but very serious skin problem that causes reddish lesions to appear on the entire body and other changes, such as difficulty in breathing and fever, which can endanger the life of the affected person.
Generally, this syndrome arises due to an allergic reaction to some medication, especially to Penicillin or other antibiotics and, therefore, symptoms can appear up to 3 days after taking the medication.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is curable, but its treatment should be started as soon as possible with hospitalization to avoid serious complications such as generalized infection or injuries to internal organs, which can make treatment difficult and life-threatening.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main symptoms
The first symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome are very similar to those of a flu, as they include include tiredness, cough, muscle pain or headache, for example. However, over time some red spots appear on the body, which eventually spread throughout the skin.
In addition, it is common for other symptoms to appear, such as:
- Swelling of the face and tongue; Difficulty breathing; Pain or burning sensation in the skin; Sore throat; Sores on the lips, inside the mouth and skin; Redness and burning in the eyes.
When these symptoms appear, especially up to 3 days after taking a new medication, it is recommended to go quickly to the emergency room to assess the problem and start the appropriate treatment.
The diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is made by observing the lesions, which contain specific characteristics, such as colors and shapes. Other tests, such as blood, urine, or lesion samples, may be needed when other secondary infections are suspected.
Who is most at risk of having the syndrome
Although it is quite rare, this syndrome is more common in people who are being treated with any of the following remedies:
- Gout medications, such as Allopurinol; Anticonvulsants or antipsychotics; Analgesics, such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or Naproxen; Antibiotics, especially penicillin.
In addition to the use of medications, some infections can also be the cause of the syndrome, especially those caused by a virus, such as herpes, HIV or hepatitis A.
People with weakened immune systems or other cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome are also at increased risk.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome must be done while in hospital and usually starts with stopping the use of any medication that is not essential to treat a chronic disease, as it may be causing or worsening the symptoms of the syndrome.
During hospitalization, it may still be necessary to inject serum directly into the vein to replace the fluids lost due to the lack of skin at the injury sites. In addition, to reduce the risk of infection, skin wounds must be treated daily by a nurse.
To reduce the discomfort of the lesions, cold water compresses and neutral creams can be used to moisturize the skin, as well as the intake of medications evaluated and prescribed by the doctor, such as antihistamines, corticosteroids or antibiotics, for example.
Find out more details about treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
