Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Diagnosing Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome should be diagnosed by a dermatologist (skin specialist). A diagnosis is often based on a combination of your:

symptoms
physical examination
medical history (including any medication you've recently taken)

To confirm the diagnosis, a small sample of skin may be removed (biopsy) so that it can be tested in a laboratory.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for stevens-johnson syndrome

Introduction

Read about Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is a rare but serious disorder that affects the skin and mucous membranes.

Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Skin pain is the most common symptom of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Flu-like symptoms are also usually present during the initial stages, and may include: feeling generally unwell a high temperatur

Causes of Stevens-Johnson syndrome

In children, Stevens-Johnson syndrome is usually triggered by a viral infection, such as mumps flu herpes-simplex virus, which causes cold sores Coxsackie virus, which causes Bornholm diseas

Risk factors

Risk factors for Stevens-Johnson syndrome may include: viral infections such as herpes, hepatitis, viral pneumonia or HIV a weakened immune system as a result of HIV or AIDS , autoimmune condi

Diagnosing Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome should be diagnosed by a dermatologist (skin specialist). A diagnosis is often based on a combination of your: symptoms physical examination medical history (including any

Treating Stevens-Johnson syndrome

If Stevens-Johnson syndrome is suspected, you or your child will be immediately referred to hospital for treatment. Without treatment, the symptoms can become very severe and be life-threatening. Sev

Complicationsof Stevens-Johnson syndrome

As Stevens-Johnson syndrome severely affects the skin and mucous membranes, it can cause a number of complications. These include: skin changes when your skin grows back it may be uneven in colour

Preventing Stevens-Johnson syndrome

If Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been caused by an adverse reaction to a medication, you'll need to avoid taking this medication and other similar medications. Other family members may also want to avo

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