The world is full of potentially harmful diseases, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Many are common and well-known, such as cancer, diabetes, pneumonia, and asthma. People have a grasp on the severity of these illnesses, treating them with respect, and seeking the treatment their illness warrants. However, there are a host of conditions that are far less familiar to many people. The world is full of harmful diseases that very few people understand. Unfortunately, many of these diseases are life-threatening. Because many people don’t know about them, they pose a more substantial threat. Patients don’t know what is plaguing them, so they don’t receive the treatment and care their body needs. One such rare, life-threatening disease is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is one of many rare diseases that countless people suffer from yearly. Often, very few people ever develop this disease, which leads to its rarity. Additionally, this disease shares characteristics and symptoms with other, more common diseases, which leads to misdiagnosis and missing the illness altogether. Because of its rarity, its potential to be life-threatening only increases.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is one of many rare conditions that threaten the lives of many. Often, it develops as a result of specific medications and worsens when a doctor misdiagnoses or misses the disease entirely. When either of these occurs, a patient may be in their rights to file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor. SJS is a complex disease, which makes filing a lawsuit difficult. By employing the aid of a trusted Stevens-Johnson Syndrome attorney, like the ones at Wormington & Bollinger, you may be able to receive the compensation you deserve.

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)?

SJS is an extremely rare skin disease that should be treated with the highest level of seriousness. It attacks a person’s skin and the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and/or genitals. Whenever SJS is identified and diagnosed, you should seek treatment immediately before the condition worsens. However, because SJS is so rare, doctors often misdiagnose this condition because it shares many symptoms with more common illnesses, including the flu. Because of this, doctors either misdiagnose their patients or miss the disease entirely.

Some of the most common symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include:

• Fever
• Skin pain
• Reddish/purplish rash that spreads across the skin
• Blisters or sores on the mucous membranes
• Skin shedding
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Burning sensation
• Burning eyes
• Swelling eyes

As we mentioned previously, if SJS is not treated immediately, it can quickly develop into a much more severe and life-threatening disease known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

While SJS and TEN were once thought to be two separate diseases, healthcare specialists have since learned that the two exist on the same disease spectrum. SJS is much safer than TEN. It only affects 10% of the skin, while TEN affects up to 30%.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome kills 10% of individuals who develop this condition, while 50% of those with TEN end up losing their lives. As you can see, when you don’t receive the treatment for SJS like you should, it will worsen and increase your risk of death.

What Causes Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)?

Several things can cause SJS to develop, but nearly 75% of all SJS and TEN cases are due to complications with medication. A host of medications can lead to SJS, including:

• Penicillins and sulfonamides that treat infections
• Anti-gout medications
• Anticonvulsants
• Lamictal
• Sedatives
• Antiepileptic drugs
• Antiretroviral drugs
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

However, medications are not the only cause of SJS. The presence of the HLA-B*1502 gene or a compromised immune system can also lead to SJS. Plenty of other harmful conditions can also increase your risk of developing SJS, including:

• HIV
• Herpes
• Hepatitis
• Influenza
• Typhoid
• Diphtheria

How Rare is SJS?

As we have stated throughout this article, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis are rare diseases. They are so rare that they often go misdiagnosed or missed entirely. The annual occurrence of SJS ranges from 8.6 to 9.8 per million. However, only one or two people out of a million suffer from SJS and TEN combined. SJS is less severe and much more common than TEN.

Patients who had SJS had to stay in the hospital for almost ten days. However, those that had TEN stayed in the hospital for an average of 16 days. Often, those suffering from SJS or TEN must receive treatment in intensive care units and burn units to treat their condition. After all, many describe the disease as burning from the inside out, with some describing their skin melting off. There have been more SJS cases involving females than males, yet many do not understand why.

Another study found that children had a much lower fatality rate from SJS/TEN than adults, 0.56% to 23%. About one in four children stayed in intensive care units for their condition.

As you can see, SJS does not discriminate between age. Anyone from children to seniors can develop this deadly illness. While the severity varies from person to person, without the proper treatment, the condition can worsen and become more deadly. Your likelihood of developing SJS also increases thanks to the above diseases and factors we provided earlier.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare, yet serious skin condition that puts those suffering from it in excruciating pain. In severe instances, it can even result in death. Often, complications with medication and misdiagnosis are to blame for the worst instances. If you or a loved one has suffered at the hands of SJS, you may be owed compensation. Contact Wormington & Bollinger and let us fight for you.