Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is potentially a serious illness that usually occurs from a medication or infection which affects your skin and mucus membranes severely. You may lose top layer of the skin with SJS disease. Without proper treatment, SJS may progress gradually which causes severe health complications and even death.


A person may experience the following symptoms up to two weeks. This includes,

  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Fever and chills
  • Headache
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Sore throat
  • Burning Eyes

Patient needs a medical attention immediately when he/she falls under the following symptoms:

  • Skin pain
  • Facial swelling
  • Blisters on your skin and mucous membranes
  • Hives
  • Tongue swelling
  • A red or purple skin rash
  • Shedding of your skin

If symptoms are severe, you may have sores in other body parts such as stomach, lungs and colon. With SJS disease, skin gets peeled off in the form of sheets and in some cases, nails and hair comes away which leads to physical and mental distress.


Antibiotics, Anti-seizure medicines and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are responsible to develop SJS disease more likely. Exact cause for SJS can't be identified every time. It may lead to severe health complications such as sepsis, skin damage, eye problems, and damage to internal parts.


Your healthcare provider asks you few questions to figure out the exact cause. Doctor examines your skin and other body parts to identify SJS disease and to confirm the condition he may perform skin biopsy. Furthermore, he may suggest you to take other tests such as blood test and x-ray to identify the condition and stage.


In some cases, it requires hospitalization to reduce SJS condition. Your health care provider may advice you to stop medications that causing SJS. If symptoms are more severe, oral and topical corticosteroids are often used for a patient to get out of SJS complications. Antacids, Antibiotics, Blood thinners, Immune globulins and Pressors medicines are used to treat infection caused by SJS.

Blood thinners medicine helps to stop the blood clots which occur in blood circulatory system. Pressors medicine keeps the blood pressure at normal range to function heart, lungs, brain and other body parts normally.

Hydrotherapy, Physical therapy and surgery are given for a patient depending on symptoms and stage.


People are affected with SJS disease, when they have weak immune system and it affects women more often than men. Follow your health care suggestions carefully to prevent Stevens-Johnson syndrome.