Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare, serious disorder in which your skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication or infection. Often, Stevens-Johnson syndrome begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters, eventually causing the top layer of your skin to die and shed.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome presents a medical emergency that usually requires hospitalization. Treatment focuses on eliminating the underlying cause, controlling symptoms and minimizing complications.
Recovery after Stevens-Johnson syndrome can take weeks to months, depending on the severity of your condition. If your doctor determines that your case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome was caused by medication, you’ll need to permanently avoid the medication and all others related to it.
Signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
Facial swelling
Tongue swelling
Hives
Skin pain
A red or purple skin rash that spreads within hours to days
Blisters on your skin and mucous membranes, especially in your mouth, nose and eyes
Shedding (sloughing) of your skin
If you have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, several days before the rash develops you may experience:
Fever
Sore throat
Cough
Burning eyes
When to see a doctor
Stevens-Johnson syndrome requires immediate medical attention.
Unexplained widespread skin pain
Facial swelling
Blisters on your skin and mucous membranes
Hives
Tongue swelling
A red or purple skin rash that spreads
Shedding of your skin
The exact cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome can’t always be identified. Usually, the condition is an allergic reaction in response to medication, infection or illness.
Medication causes
Medications are most often the cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Drugs commonly associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
Anti-gout medications, such as allopurinol
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), often used to treat pain
Penicillins, which are used to treat infections
Anticonvulsants, which are used to treat seizures
Infectious causes
Infections that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
Herpes (herpes simplex or herpes zoster)
Influenza
HIV
Diphtheria
Typhoid
Hepatitis
Other causes
In some cases, Stevens-Johnson syndrome may be caused by physical stimuli, such as radiation therapy or ultraviolet light
.
