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Stevens-Johnson syndrome Overview
Stevens-Johnson syndrome, also called SJS, is a rare but serious problem. Most often, it’s a severe reaction to a medicine you’ve taken. It causes your skin to blister and peel off. It affects your mucus membranes, too. Blisters also form inside your body, making it hard to eat, swallow, even pee.
Getting treated right away helps protect your skin and other organs from lasting damage.
Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Stevens-Johnson syndrome symptoms include:
- Facial swelling
- Tongue swelling
- 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
If you have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, several days before the rash develops you may experience:
- Sore mouth and throat
- Burning eyes
Treating these diseases
Those suffering from SJS or TEN are treated in hospital, and if the cause of the problem is drug related then the drugs are stopped with immediate effect. Surviving patients are treated intravenously to replace any lost fluids, and the skin is left to re-grow on its own. However, the chances of survival can be hit and miss depending on the level of damage and the degree of infection incurred by the patient.
It is vital that those taking drugs that could result in these skin diseases are vigilant and can identify the danger signs associated with these problems. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis can be deadly, and the earlier the symptoms are recognised the faster treatment can be initiated.
Of course, those affected by drugs in this way or the families of those that have passed away from these skin problems have every right to file for compensation against the manufacturer of the drug in question. Lawyers now specialize in this type of litigation, and those that feel as though they have grounds for compensation are advised to go through an experienced drugs litigation lawyer.