Stevens Johnson Syndrome - Ever Heard of It?
Posted by
Dan FrithSeptember 25, 2007 9:59 AMStevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is an allergic reaction caused by various drugs, many of which can be purchased at your local drug store. SJS can be caused by almost any medication including anit-biotics, anti-convulsants and pain killers. Adverse drug reactions (ADR's) account for approximately 150,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone, making drug reactions the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. SJS is one of the most debilitating ADR's recognized. It was first discovered in 1922 by pediatricians A.M. Stevens and F.C. Johnson after diagnosing a child with severe ocular and oral involvement to a drug reaction.
What are the signs of Stevens Johnson Syndrome?
1. Persistent fever
2. Burning or blistering of the mucous membranes in the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and genital area
3. Rash, blisters, or red splotches on the skin
4. Flu like sumptoms, and
5. A history of a reaction to prescribed drugs or over-the-counter medications
Read more from the SJS Foundation.
For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.