Steven Johnson Syndrome and Burns (Part I)

Steven Johnson Syndrome is a systemic allergic reaction that has high morbidty and can lead to death in severe cases. It is charactarized by the appearance of rash on the skin and the mucous membrane. This syndrome can affect the eye, respiratory and nasal tracts, vagina and the urethra.

Causes: Steven Johnson Syndrome can be idiopathic (no known cause) or as a result of an immunological reaction to immunologic stimuli that can be diseases, drugs or infections, among these stimuli are:

A- Infections and diseases: They may include

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
Staphylococcus aurus
Herpes simplex virus type 2
Orf
Histoplasmosis
mycoplasma pnemumoniae

B- Drugs:They may include

Isoniazide
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Barbiturates
Clindamycin
Penicillamine
Thiabendazole
Procainamide
Diltiazem
Terbinafine
Suramine
Leflunomide

Clinical features of the disease:
Symptoms vary from one patient to another, It may affect the skin, the mucous membrane, it may affect the skin and the mucous membrane and may lead to pealing of the skin. When the disease involves the mucous membrane the mouth and eyes are affected in a severe way. it may lead to visial impairment. Common signs and symptoms include:

skin lesions which are itchy and painful
Skin blisters, target shaped skin lesions and/or burn like skin lesions
Mucous membrane lesions, blisters, swelling and/or ulcers
Mouth and throat rash and/or blisters
Gental rash and/or blisters
Malase, itching, cough and sore throat
Flue like symptoms, fever and headache
Conjuctival rash and/or blisters, vision loss
swollen painful eyes, corneal blisters, holes and/or erosion, loss of visio

Progression of the disease:
Steven Johnson Syndrome vary from mild to severe. In the early stages of disease the patient presented with flue like symptoms including sore throat, joint pain, malaise etc. with the progress of disease, skin lesions start to develop throughout the boday and continue to progress leading to blindness in advanced cases.

This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice; it should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Call 911 for all medical emergencies.