A girl is fighting for her life against Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.  She was hospitalized after having a severe allergic reaction to the medication she had been taking, which left half of her skin in lesions.

The symptoms of the patient, Whitney Lewis, at first baffled doctors, who were unsure how to treat her. Doctors said that her condition was so severe that she had to have 50% of her skin removed.

The skin removed was covered in lesions and blisters, which would have rendered it useless.  The girl and her family have been in the hospital since last week.  According to the family and doctors, they believe Lewis suffered a bad allergic reaction to a medication she was taking at the time. The type of medication was not disclosed.

Shortly after ingesting the medication, the girl developed flu-like symptoms and then red and purple lesions appeared on her skin. The blisters started appearing everywhere on Lewis’ body, causing her to feel like her skin was burning off from the inside. Doctors are aware there is a limit to what they can do since there is no cure for Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Her family’s message to the community was that they are praying for their little girl’s recovery, and that they are thankful for the support. The family also wants other parents to be cautious and aware of the medications they give their children, to take notice of the slightest sign of a negative side effect, and then take preventive measures against it.

There are approximately 300 cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome diagnosed in the United States a year, and is more commonly found in adults than children. Pediatric doctors typically do not encounter such allergic reactions from their patients. If left untreated, the condition could cause permanent damage to the skin, sight, internal organs, and even death.

Due to the severe nature of the Stevens Johnson Syndrome side effects, the FDA urges patients to be aware of any adverse side effects they could be having towards a medication, and that the condition should be listed if the medication has been shown to cause it.

Overview of Stevens Johnson Syndrome Complications

Due to the nature of the lesions that appear on the skin, especially with the detachment process, Stevens Johnson Syndrome patients are treated in the same unit as burn patients.  The injuries can be described as when skin literally melts off the body, leaving permanent scarring. It is not known why only some patients develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome, but most medical experts believe it has to do with medical history, and that the chances are higher if certain medications are used in conjunction with each other.

Typically, if Stevens Johnson Syndrome were to occur, it would be within the first two weeks of starting the medication, and would start with flu-like symptoms. After the flu-like symptoms pass, which typically last about a week, the red or purple-colored lesions appear typically on the skin and mucous membranes such as the mouth, lip, or tongue.