Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare condition where your skin and mucous membranes have a severe adverse reaction to certain medications or infections. This condition begins with symptoms similar to those of the flu, and can lead to skin loss or death if left untreated.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is also known as:
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis
- Erythema multiforme minor
- Lyell's syndrome
- Erythema multiforme major
Causes of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
While exact causes of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome are not always certain, medications are most often the cause. Some of the more common medications that have caused Stevens-Johnson Syndrome are:
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Antibiotic medication
- Anti-convulsant medication
Infections can also be the cause of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Some of the infections that have been found to cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include:
- Herpes simplex
- Mycoplasma
- HIV
- Typhoid
- Diptheria
- Hepatitis
Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Prior to experiencing the physical symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, patients may have the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Headache
Physical symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome may include the following:
- Painful, shedding skin
- A spreading red or purple skin rash
- Blisters
- Shedding nails and hair
- Hives
- Burning
- Facial swelling
- Tongue swelling
- Eyes that burn or itch
Patients experiencing the aforementioned symptoms should go to the emergency room because hospitalization is necessary to successfully recover.
Diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
To diagnose Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a full physical examination and review of the patient's medical history will be done. To provide a more accurate diagnosis, the following tests may be conducted:
- Skin biopsy
- Nikolsky's sign
Treatment of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome needs to take place at the hospital. If the case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome was caused by medications, stopping those medications will be the first step of treatment. While hospitalized, the patient will undergo fluid replacement and receive cold compresses on their skin. Medications, including antihistamines, antibiotics, and painkillers, may also be used to manage symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If skin loss has occurred, skin grafting may be necessary; however, this rarely occurs.