Causes Of Steven Johnson Syndrome

Many people do not know what SJS, Stevens Johnson Syndrome or TEN, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is. To begin with, these diseases is life threatening. Fortunately, their occurrence is very rare which is why; people are not at very severe harm as in the case of cancer and aids from which a major population of the world suffers. But those who do get affected, the experience can be very painful. It has the potential to disable the patient and at times lead to his death. The experience of suffering through SJS is similar to that of someone who has sustained 2nd degree burns causing a high loss of skin. Rashes are a prominent part of this disease which can create high risks of severe itching further damaging the situation.

There is no list of the organs that might get affected by SJS and TEN. The disease may start from the limbs, i.e. the hands and the legs but spread to other body parts like arms, shoulders, face (eyes, mouth, ears, lips etc.), fingers (both hands and feet) etc. If we consider the sexes, the females are more susceptible to getting infected by Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Stevens Johnson Syndrome compared to males. This probability further increases in the case of children who are less on immunity. The medicine which is most associated with these diseases is Motrin and Advil. These are medicines which are made for a different disease but due to negligence of the manufacturing pharmaceuticals, they have been a major cause of worry.

As mentioned above, the medical drugs are the cause of this disease. However, ironically, these constitute for a total of more than 80 percent of the total causes of TEN and SJS. Doctors are unable to judge whether what causes these problems, but are very sure that it is these medicines which lead to them. Because of the delay in reporting by the patients, the diagnosis becomes hard and curing the infection in the later stages can be hard compared to if it was reported in the initial stages. The public cannot be blamed for this because most of them relate it to a general rash and try to avoid visiting a doctor due to exorbitant medical fee.

You would have realized by now that identifying this disease is the first and foremost step in the treatment of this disease. If the case is understood and discovered in the initial stages, the problem can be reduced from spreading through the complete body. Once it is identified, the patient would have to stop taking that medicine so that no more harm is brought to his body. Taking this procedure has shown that as much as forty percent of the SJS and TEN problems have been reduced hence bringing respite for those suffering from it.

Getting admitted to a hospital for this disease may be very painful for the near and dear ones of the patient as well. The body becomes such that even looking at it is difficult. Peeling skin with spots everywhere is a sight that not many can take.