Understanding The Causes And Risk Factors For Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare condition. It causes a painful rash, and the patient's skin often blisters! This condition affects the entire body. Other common symptoms are a sore throat, cough, and severe itching. Patients will also experience red eyes and sensitivity to light! Many patients deal with fatigue and muscle pain too! Doctors take the patient's medical history when diagnosing this condition. They also need to know about their medication use. A skin biopsy is common as well!

Patients need to stop taking medications that are not essential. This is the first step in Stevens-Johnson syndrome treatment! Most patients will apply cool compresses for blisters. Although medication is used, doctors approve it carefully. Patients will only take specific ones! This includes certain antibiotics for Stevens-Johnson syndrome. However, doctors must know what caused the condition in their patients first. This is essential for determining the right treatment!

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a common cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. In fact, it is the most common infectious cause! Mycoplasma pneumonia is the type that triggers this condition the most. It is the result of M. pneumoniae bacteria! Patients with this condition and Stevens-Johnson syndrome need to be treated aggressively.

The reason for this is because eye complications are incredibly common in these individuals! Blistering of the eyes is one example of what patients often experience. Symptoms of pneumonia to watch out for include a productive cough, fever, and mucous membrane swelling. These appear one week before the rash and skin blistering!

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Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants are common prescription medications. They are used to treat epilepsy! They also prevent seizures triggered by several other causes. However, this type of medication also causes Stevens-Johnson syndrome in certain patients! All patients diagnosed with this syndrome need their entire medication history reviewed.

The anticonvulsant that causes this condition the most is phenytoin. Other high-risk medications for Stevens-Johnson syndrome in this class are diazepam and gabapentin! Unfortunately, research is not completely clear on why these medications cause this condition. Currently, the theory is that the metabolites of these medications are responsible for this reaction.

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Pain Medication

This condition is quite painful for patients! This is why many patients take pain medications to help with their symptoms. However, not all of these medications are an option. In fact, many pain medications cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome in the first place.

Typically, over-the-counter pain medications are the cause. This is especially the case when patients overuse them! Common examples are ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Prescription pain medications also carry this condition as a risk! Once again, researchers believe that the metabolites left in the patient's body from these medications cause this condition.

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Anti-Gout Medication

Anti-gout medication is yet another type that causes Stevens-Johnson syndrome! Studies from Europe and Israel indicate that the most common one that triggers this condition is called allopurinol. Thus, most doctors prescribe other medications for gout when possible!

However, the dose of the medication matters too! Higher doses increase the patient's risk of developing this condition. This risk is even higher when patients take allopurinol! Thus, the lowest effective dose is recommended. Time also influences a patient's risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The longer they take their anti-gout medication, the higher their risk becomes!

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Liver Injury

Liver injury is a major risk factor for Stevens-Johnson syndrome! Acetaminophen damages the liver in patients who take too much. Taking it too long also damages the patient's liver. As mentioned, this medication is a major cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome! In addition, thirty percent of patients experience increased liver enzymes. Ten percent of these develop hepatitis as a result!

Most researchers believe medication is what connects the liver and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The medication causes this syndrome and liver conditions! Hepatitis A is one example. A liver injury or disease caused by medication is serious. The mortality rate in Stevens-Johnson syndrome patients who deal with this risk factor is higher than the rate in those who do not!