SJS: What is It?
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS) - another more serious form of SJS - are severe adverse reactions to medications.  Adverse drug reactions account for approximately 150,000 deaths per yet 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 adverse drug reaction recognized.  It was first discovered in 1922 by pediatricians A.M. Stevens and S.C. Johnson after diagnosing a child with severe ocular and oral involvement to a drug reaction.

What Causes SJS?
Almost any medication including over-the-counter drugs, such as Ibuprofen, can cause SJS.  Most commonly implicated drugs are anti-convulsants, antibiotics (such as sulfa, penicillin and cephalosporin) and anti-inflammatory medications.

Who Can Get SJS or TENS?
Although SJS afflicts people of all ages a large amount of its victims are children. More female cases have been reported than male, however it does not discriminate against anyone. The SJS Foundation hears from people around the world who suffer from SJS and TENS.

SJS: Know the Signs!
Recognition of the early symptoms
of SJS and prompt medical attention are the most invaluable tools in minimizing the possible long-term effects SJS may have on its victims.
Symptoms
- Rash, blisters, or red splotches on skin
- Persistent fever
- Blisters in mouth, eyes, ears, nose, genital area
- Swelling of eyelids, red eyes
- Conjunctivitis
- Flu-like symptoms
- Recent history of having taken a prescription or over-the-counter medication
- Target lesions are not always seen in SJS!
If you notice two or more of these symptoms, contact a physician immediately.
 

Risks
SJS and TENS are life-threatening reactions. If left untreated, they can result in death. Complications can include permanent blindness, dry-eye syndrome, photo phobia, lung damage, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, permanent loss of nail beds, scarring of the esophagus
and other mucous membranes, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Many patients pores
scar shut, causing them to retain heat. These are just some of the side-effects that have been
reported.

Treatment
First and foremost, affected
persons must stop taking the offending drug immediately to prevent complications. Treatment
for SJS is good supportive care. Because patients literally burn from the inside out, burn, infectious disease, ophthalmology and dermatology teams are recommended. IV fluids and high calorie formulas are given to promote healing. Antibiotics are given when necessary to prevent secondary infections such as sepsis. Pain medications such as morphine are administered to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Most SJS patients can be managed in medical ICU or pediatric ICU. Patients with TENS should be treated in a burn unit.

Drug Reactions - A Serious Issue
Drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Yet, less than one percent are reported to the FDA, because there is no mandatory reporting system in effect for post marketing adverse drug reactions. Similarly, no one has an accurate count of the cases of SJS and TENS. Although SJS is listed as a rare disease, it may be more prevalent than previously thought.

The SJS Foundation
The SJS Foundation was founded
to be a resource to SJS victims
and their families. Our mission is to provide support services, and compile and distribute valuable information about SJS to the public and medical professionals regarding treatments and therapies that may prove beneficial to SJS sufferers. We work to promote awareness about the signs of SJS so that a quick diagnosis can be made and the offending agent stopped as soon as possible.

Reprinted with permission from The SJS Foundation.