The world is full of diseases that range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Many conditions are well-documented, with most healthcare experts aware of their existence. They know what to look for and how to treat them.

However, there are just as many diseases that often go unnoticed. The rarity of these conditions often leads to misdiagnosis, or doctors missing the disease altogether. As we have mentioned in the past, Steven-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is one such condition.

Experts estimate the annual occurrence of SJS is between 8.6 and 9.8 cases per million adults. The rates of combined SJS and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), a far more severe form of SJS, are much lower, sitting at between 1.6 and 1.9 cases per million.

Due to these low case rates, most doctors will not encounter SJS during their practicing years. Unfortunately, because of this, many doctors miss this disease or misdiagnose the condition, which leads to severe, potentially life-threatening SJS complications. Without proper treatment, a patient’s condition will drastically worsen.

When either of these scenarios occurs, a patient may be in their rights to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. With the help of a trusted Stevens-Johnson Syndrome attorney at Wormington & Bollinger, you can receive the compensation you deserve. Today, we are going to take a closer look at common SJS complications and what they mean for you.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Symptoms 

Before we go more in-depth into SJS complications, we should provide a quick refresher about what Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is and what its symptoms are.

SJS is a rare skin disease that attacks a patient’s skin and the mucous membranes of their eyes, mouth, and genitals. You should always treat this disease with the utmost seriousness to ensure you receive the appropriate treatment.

Some of the most common SJS symptoms include:

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

If you recognize these symptoms early, seek medical attention immediately. If not, your SJS can quickly progress and develop into Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). While many experts once thought TEN was a separate condition to SJS, it exists on the same disease spectrum as SJS. While SJS only affects 10% of the skin, TEN impacts roughly 30% or more of your skin. It is also far more fatal.

While only 10% of SJS patients lose their life to the disease, TEN kills 50% of patients. If you do not seek treatment for SJS, it will turn into TEN and put your life at risk.

SJS Complications

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome severely impacts your skin. Because of its rarity, many doctors do not catch the disease as soon as they should. Even if they do, a patient may experience complications before, during, and after SJS treatment. Some of these complications are minor, while some can be life-threatening. It’s essential to understand these SJS complications to prepare yourself:

Dehydration:

As your condition progresses, the skin will eventually shed itself, letting itself heal. However, as the skin sheds, these areas lose fluids. Additionally, the sores around your mouth and throat make drinking fluids difficult. These two together often leads to dehydration, which makes recovery difficult.

Long-Term Skin Issues:

SJS directly impacts your skin. Unfortunately, many complications involving SJS involve issues with your skin. When your skin regrows, there may be abnormal bumps. The skin may also be discolored, not matching the surrounding skin color. While less common, patients may experience scarring once the new skin has grown back.

Patients may also experience loss of nail beds, or their fingernails and toenails might grow back irregularly.

Sepsis: 

When the bacteria from an infection site enter your bloodstream, sepsis, a blood infection, occurs. Sepsis can spread rapidly and can be life-threatening, causing shock and organ failure.

Long-Term Eye Issues:

As we have stated before, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome attacks the mucous membranes of your eyes. When SJS infects the eyes, it can cause mild issues such as irritation, dry eye, and light sensitivity.

However, it can also lead to corneal ulceration, uveitis, and scarring of the eye tissue. The eyelids may fold inward or may stick to the eyeballs. Patients may experience vision loss and, in extreme cases, blindness.

Lung Problems:

When the mucous membranes along the respiratory tract are impacted, patients can develop lung problems. Lung damage, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and scarring of the esophagus are all common SJS complications of the lungs. Many of these can lead to acute respiratory failure, as well.

SJS may also lead to problems with the heart, kidneys, liver, and more.

Other Issues:

• Inflammation of the gums in the mouth
• Dry mouth
• Gum disease
• Shock
• Problems with sexual organs, such as vaginal stenosis and scarring and inflammation of the penis

Treatment for SJS 

Once you recognize symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, do not hesitate. Seek medical treatment immediately to avoid the disease developing into TEN or experiencing any of the above complications. Often, patients with SJS or TEN will receive treatment in the ICU or burn units in hospitals.

Once in the hospital, SJS treatment looks like:

• Replacement of fluids and nutrients. Dehydration is a common complication of SJS. Doctors will give you plenty of fluids to keep your body hydrated and nutrients to help your skin rebuild. An IV will administer your fluids for you.
• Antibiotics. Doctors will also give you antibiotics to help fight off the infection to keep it from spreading and causing further complications.
• Pain medication. SJS is incredibly painful, so your doctor may give you pain medication, whether orally or through an IV.
• Wound care. Often, the affected area is treated like it was a burn. Hospital staff will carefully clean the area, remove dead skin gently, and dress your wounds.
• Eyecare. Doctors will clean your eyes and use specials creams and drops to keep your eyes infection free and from drying out.
• Steroids. Steroids help boost your body’s immune system to reduce inflammation.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is an incredibly rare and potentially lethal skin condition. Often, doctors think SJS’s symptoms are that of another, less dangerous condition. When this happens, your condition may worsen, develop into TEN, and lead to serious complications.

If you were the victim of misdiagnosis of SJS, you might be able to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome attorneys at Wormington & Bollinger to learn how we can help.