Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a serious disorder of the skin, as well as the lining of the eyeballs, in the mouth, anus, and genitals. This layer is known as the mucous membrane in the medical world. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare condition that occurs as a result of the body's reaction to drugs or infections. Patients with this syndrome require immediate treatment by undergoing hospitalization, because it has the potential to cause death.
Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Initially, the symptoms that appear in Stevens-Johnson syndrome resemble flu symptoms, namely:
- Fever
- Body feels tired
- Soreness in the mouth and throat
- Eyes feel hot
- Cough
Then, after a few days, further symptoms will appear in the form of:
- Blisters on the skin, especially on the nose, eyes, mouth and genitals.
- Widespread redness or purplish rash and patches on the skin (erythema).
- The skin peels off a few days after the blisters form.
- This skin and mucosal disorder causes a burning sensation.
Causes of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
In adults, Stevens-Johnson syndrome may be caused by side effects of the following medicines:
- Gout medications, such as allopurinol.
- Painkillers, for example paracetamol, naproxen, or piroxicam.
- Antibiotics, eg penicillin.
- Antiviral drugs nevirapine.
- Antiseizure drugs, such as carbamazepine and lamotrigine.
In children, this syndrome is more often triggered by a viral infection. In rare cases, it can be caused by a bacterial infection. Some viral infections that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome are:
- Pneumonia or wet lungs
- Hepatitis A
- HIV
- Herpes
- Mumps
- Flu
- Glandular fever
R factoriStevens-Johnson syndrome
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome, namely:
- History of experiencing Stevens-Johnson syndrome, both in the patient himself and in the family.
- Weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS infection, after organ transplantation, autoimmune disease, or due to chemotherapy side effects.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Diagnosis
Doctors will suspect a patient has Stevens-Johnson syndrome if there are a number of symptoms that have been described previously. To confirm and rule out other possible conditions, the doctor will ask the patient's medical history and run further tests, such as:
- Blood test.
- Sampling of skin tissue or mucous layers, for culture or examination under a microscope (biopsy).
- Chest X-ray, if the doctor suspects the patient's condition is caused by pneumonia.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Treatment
Patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome need to be treated intensively in a hospital. If the patient is taking medication, the first step taken by the doctor is to stop taking the drug.
Then, the doctor can give medication to relieve the patient's symptoms, such as:
- Painkillers to relieve pain.
- Mouthwash containing anesthetics and antiseptics, to temporarily numb the mouth so that the patient can swallow food more easily.
- Antibiotics, in patients with bacterial infections.
- Corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, which are applied topically or taken by mouth to reduce inflammation in the affected area.
To help the healing process, the doctor will also carry out several supporting steps, such as:
- Provide replacement of nutrients and body fluids through a feeding tube, which is inserted through the nose to the stomach. This step is done to meet the nutritional fluid needs that are lost due to the shedding of the skin layer.
- Compress the wound with a wet cloth to relieve pain in the blisters while the healing process.
- Remove dead skin and apply petroleum jelly to the affected area of the skin.
- Eye examination, and give eye drops if needed.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Complications
If not treated properly, Stevens-Johnson syndrome can lead to the following complications:
- Lung damage, which can lead to respiratory failure.
- Permanent skin damage, which can lead to hair loss, as well as abnormally growing nails.
- Inflammation of the eye, which can cause damage to eye tissue, and can even lead to blindness.
- Bacterial infection of the skin (cellulitis).
- Blood stream infection (sepsis).
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Prevention
To prevent attacks of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, avoid taking drugs that can trigger it, especially if you or your family has a history of this disease. If needed, genetic testing can be done before taking these drugs.