Stevens-Johnson syndrome
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 avoid using the medication in case theres a genetic susceptibility within your family.
If you've had Stevens-Johnson syndrome in the past, and your doctor thinks you're at risk of getting it again in the future, you'll be warned to look out for the symptoms.
If you're of Chinese, southeast Asian or Indian descent, genetic testing may be recommended before taking medications, such as carbamazepine and allopurinol, that are known to have an associated risk of causing Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Testing will help determine whether you carry the genes (HLA B1502 and HLA B1508) that have been associatedwith the syndrome when taking these medications.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
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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