Stevens Johnson Syndrome Symptoms & Treatment:
Usually the result of a serious drug reaction, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a disease that affects the skin in a dramatic way and can prove fatal in some cases. There are a number of commonly used drugs that have been identified as triggers in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and these drugs can cause a serious reaction that results in this skin condition. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs have been linked to the onset of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (also known as SJS). Barbiturates, anticonvulsants, and even some antibiotics have also been linked to the onset of SJS.
Although there is a strong link between certain drugs and SJS, this skin condition can also result from bacterial infection. There are also cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome where the cause cannot be identified at all. However, no matter how the disease is caused it is a serious and potentially deadly condition that causes massive discomfort, pain, and suffering to the patient.
The symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
There are a number of symptoms associated with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Some of the earlier symptoms can be very non-specific, and therefore it can be difficult to link these specifically to SJS as opposed to any other disease or illness that may display the same sort of symptoms. Some of the early, non-specific symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include aches, coughing, headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever.
These symptoms then begin to develop, and this is where the disease can become more obvious. A rash and blisters can appear across the body, particularly across the trunk of the body. The mouth, eyes, nose, and genital area can also become covered in blisters and the mucous membranes can become inflamed. Some patients may suffer loss of hair and nails, and the skin can start to come away in such large quantities that it begins to look seriously burned and also gives rise to potential infections.
It can often take just a week or two after use of a particular drug for the onset of early symptoms. Although there are various treatments available for patients with SJS, this is a very serious skin disease, and anyone that suspects that they may be suffering with SJS should seek immediate medical attention.
Possible treatments for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
The treatment administered for the serious and potentially deadly skin condition, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, can be dependant upon the cause of the disease. However, in some cases the cause of SJS cannot be identified, which can complicate matters. In cases where a drug reaction has caused the onset of SJS – the most common cause – doctors will discontinue use of the drug and may administer treatment accordingly.
Patients suffering from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome have to be treated in a very clean and hygienic environment, as the raw flesh where skin has come away is very vulnerable and open to all sorts of infections. Patients are usually treated in a burns unit in more severe cases, as this disease can resemble severe burns and required the same degree of care.
In many cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, the patient loses a great deal of body fluid through exposed flesh. This is because the flesh often seeps, expelling fluid from the body. This issue may also need to be addressed and treated, and doctors may need to replace fluids. In addition to this, topical medication and corticosteroids may need to be used to treat the exposed and seeping areas.
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