{"id":5200,"date":"2019-03-20T12:45:33","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T12:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5200"},"modified":"2021-05-31T23:22:19","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T23:22:19","slug":"10-things-to-know-about-steven-johnson-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/10-things-to-know-about-steven-johnson-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things to Know About Steven Johnson Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (also known as SJS) is a rare condition that is characterized by a severe skin reaction that might lead to a wide range of other health complications that can be associated with it, many of which are severe and can lead to eventual organ failure if the condition is left untreated.
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Even though you might not have heard of SJS before, it\u2019s an increasingly common condition that might occur in approximately two million cases per year \u2013 although experts estimate that this number could be even higher if the condition were properly diagnosed in parts of the world where medical records and statistics for the condition aren\u2019t as easy to access.
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Medication is the most common cause of the condition, although several aggravating conditions such as HIV, lupus and other genetic factors can increase the risk of developing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Here are 8 things you should know about SJS.
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1. Medication is the Most Common Cause<\/strong>
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Even though it\u2019s generally agreed that there are several different conditions that can increase your risk of developing SJS, a side-effect of different types of medication <\/a>is agreed to be the most common cause of developing the condition \u2013 and it depends on an individual\u2019s reaction to being given the medication, which means that the contraindication of the medicine might only become obvious once the first effects of SJS has already started to set in.
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There are several medications known to potentially trigger Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and it includes many common antibiotics that are prescribed to treat standard infections, and can also include other medications such as nevirapine.
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More study is needed to determine which sections of the population can be at a higher risk of developing SJS, and why certain medications are known to have this effect \u2013 for now, it relies on a list of medications that might potentially cause issues.
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2. It\u2019s a Common Health Condition<\/strong>
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While you might never have heard of Stevens-Johnson syndrome<\/a> before reading about it in this article, it\u2019s a more common health condition than you might have thought before, and it can affect as much as an estimated 2 \u00a0million people every year. Statistics say that the condition might even affect more than the reported number, and it could be on the rise as more cases of SJS are properly diagnosed and accordingly reported.
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With as much as 2 million cases happening every year, you should take note if you are at an increased risk of developing SJS due to any medication that you might have been prescribed, and report any symptoms that you experience (even those that don\u2019t mirror this specific condition) to your doctor as soon as they happen to you.
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The good thing is that enough is known to treat the disorder without having to use invasive methods.
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3. Flulike Symptoms Occur First<\/strong>
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The first symptoms that are known to occur in most cases of SJS are the type of symptoms that will mirror the beginnings of your standard cold <\/a>or flu infection; the only difference between the two is the fact that you will very soon notice that the flulike symptoms don\u2019t go away in the expected time, and this should be the very first sign that something else is wrong with your health. You should see your doctor if this is the case, even if you experience only a longer-than-usual bout of the flu without the other symptoms of Steven-Johnsons Syndrome being present.
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In most cases of SJS, these symptoms soon set over into the characteristic rash associated with the condition, and other severe symptoms (including organ failure) will set in if the condition remains untreated.
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If you have taken flu medication that aggravates symptoms, see your doctor after discontinuing use.
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4. Other Conditions Increase Your Risk<\/strong>
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Enough is known about the cause behind Steven-Johnsons Syndrome to know that there is a long (and ever-increasing) list of medications that can trigger the condition, and this list of medications are prescribed by doctors with increasing care when dealing with patients who might be at an increased risk of developing SJS.
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There are many other health conditions which can put you at a higher risk of developing SJS, including HIV, lupus and other health conditions which are known to compromise the general immune system<\/a>; many medications that are generally prescribed for these conditions are also known to trigger the condition in many cases.
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Young children and the elderly (who are considered to have a compromised immunity by default) can also be said to be a higher risk factor for developing SJS with special care needed.
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High-risk cases should always consult with their doctor before stopping, starting or changing their medication.
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5. Secondary Infections Increase Risk<\/strong>
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There are plenty of health conditions that can increase your risk of developing Steven-Johnsons Syndrome, and your doctor should know that special care should be taken when prescribing medication to a potential high-risk case \u2013 this is essential, and if you spot any of the first symptoms <\/a>of SJS happening to you, an appointment with your doctor is vital to ensure that the condition is treated in time and the body doesn\u2019t undergo any permanent damage as a result.
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These health conditions aren\u2019t the only things that can potentially increase your risk of contracting SJS: Secondary infections anywhere in the body can also increase your risk of developing the disorder, especially when combined with any of the other risks that are associated with SJS \u2013 and the same if you are taking a medication which can increase your risk of developing a condition like Steven-Johnsons Syndrome.
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See your doctor with any symptoms.
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6. Respiratory Infections are Common<\/strong>
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Secondary infections can help to increase your risk of developing Steven-Johnsons Syndrome, and this risk can exponentially increase if you are subject to any of the other factors that can potentially up your risk of developing the condition \u2013 but this isn\u2019t the only way in which infections and SJS can go hand-in-hand. Respiratory infections can not only cause SJS, it also works the other way around.
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If you have been diagnosed with SJS, your risk of a respiratory infection after this greatly increases, and it\u2019s seen in as much as half of all diagnosed cases. This will often require symptomatic and separate treatment <\/a>to decrease your potential risk of the condition turning into something that could be fatal.
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You should see your doctor if you experience any symptoms that last for a few hours, or still don\u2019t go away after an attempt at treatment. It can greatly decrease your risk.
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7. Eye-Problems are Common<\/strong>
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It should be pretty obvious that you should see your doctor the moment that any potential symptoms of SJS are noticed, and the same is true if any of the symptoms get worse over time: But this isn\u2019t the only time that diagnosed cases of Steven-Johnsons Syndrome should see their doctor, and there are many cases where a specialist doctor\u2019s help might be needed to treat the condition properly.
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The first doctor that someone might see once they notice the skin-affected part of SJS is their dermatologist<\/a>, who might make a further recommendation or referral to another doctor who can treat the condition; cases of potential organ failure (or higher risk) will require other specialists.

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The same way, seeing an eye specialist is also recommended due to the potential of eye damage, subsequent vision loss, and scarring under the eyelids that can commonly occur in many cases of SJS.
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8. Immediate Treatment is Required<\/strong>
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Steven-Johnsons Syndrome is a condition that has the potential to progress fast; symptoms that mirror that of flu are usually said to occur first, and the characteristics of the disease that affects the skin will happen shortly after this. A lot of time can be saved in treatment and diagnosis if the condition is reported to your doctor once the first symptoms of the condition that commonly mirrors flu <\/a>are reported to your doctor in time instead of later on when the other, more severe symptoms of the condition can occur.
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In the majority of SJS cases, immediate treatment should be started as soon as the condition has been properly diagnosed. This is up to your doctor, who will recommend the best course of treatment and follow it through: Although if you have any feeling that your doctor isn\u2019t treating you the right way, it\u2019s your right to switch doctors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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