What should you know about Stevens-Johnson syndrome?

The illness may begin with fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, or burning eyes before a painful red or dusky rash appears. Blisters, peeling, and sores can develop on the lips, mouth, eyes, genitals, or other moist surfaces. A medicine reaction is a common trigger, although infections and other causes can also be considered. Stevens-Johnson syndrome sits on the same clinical spectrum as toxic epidermal necrolysis, which is more extensive.

Seek emergency medical care immediately if this pattern is suspected. Take every medicine packet or an up-to-date medicine list with you, including recently stopped products and non-prescription remedies. Do not restart a suspected medicine unless a treating clinician specifically instructs you. Hospital care may include fluids, wound care, pain relief, eye assessment, and treatment of affected mucosal areas.

Go to an emergency department for rapidly spreading painful skin, blisters, peeling, mouth sores that limit drinking, eye pain or light sensitivity, genital sores, breathing difficulty, faintness, or fever with a new rash. These features can signal a severe reaction; do not wait for a routine dermatology appointment.

Ask which medicine or infection may have triggered the reaction, which products must be avoided in future, whether your eyes or other mucosal surfaces need follow-up, and how the suspected reaction should be recorded in your medical history.