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| Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole |
The Federal Ministry of Health on Friday disclosed that there have been cases of a disease
known as Stephens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) in the country but asked Nigerians not
to panic.
TheCable report continues:
At a press conference to raise
awareness, which had Isaac Adewole, minister of health, in attendance, the
ministry disclosed that two cases of SJS had been recorded, resulting in the
death of one person in 2012.
Adewole asked Nigerians not to panic.
Boade Akinola, spokeswoman of the
ministry, disclosed that a doctor rendering community service was mistakenly
infected with HIV.
She said the doctor reacted negatively
to the drugs given during treatment, and that led to SJS, which eventually
resulted in the death of the health official.
The disease causes the skin of its
victim to blister and peel off, leading to the forming of blisters inside the
patient’s body.
The victim also finds it hard to eat,
swallow, or even urinate.
It starts with fever before
symptoms such as watery eyes, sore throat, and fatigue set in.
From research provided by NAIJAGRAPHITTI TEAM, Mayo Clinic in the US provides the following details about Stephens-Johnson syndrome on its website:
Definition
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome is a rare, serious disorder of your skin and mucous membranes. It's
usually a reaction to a medication or an infection. Often, Stevens-Johnson
syndrome begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful red or purplish
rash that spreads and blisters. Then the top layer of the affected skin dies and
sheds.
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome is a medical emergency that usually requires hospitalization.
Treatment focuses on eliminating the underlying cause, controlling symptoms and
minimizing complications.
Recovery
after Stevens-Johnson syndrome can take weeks to months, depending on the
severity of your condition. If it was caused by a medication, you'll need to
permanently avoid that drug and others closely related to it.
Symptoms
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome symptoms include:
o
Facial
swelling
o
Tongue
swelling
o
Hives
o
Skin
pain
o
A
red or purple skin rash that spreads within hours to days
o
Blisters
on your skin and the mucous membranes of your mouth, nose, eyes and genitals
o
Shedding
of your skin
If
you have Stevens-Johnson syndrome, several days before the rash develops you
may experience:
o
Fever
o
Sore
mouth and throat
o
Fatigue
o
Cough
o
Burning
eyes
When to see a doctor
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome requires immediate medical attention. Seek emergency medical care if
you experience any of the following signs or symptoms:
o
Unexplained
widespread skin pain
o
Facial
swelling
o
Blisters
on your skin and mucous membranes
o
Hives
o
Tongue
swelling
o
A
red or purplish skin rash that spreads
o
Shedding
of your skin
Causes
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome is a rare and unpredictable reaction. Your doctor may not be able to
identify its exact cause, but usually the condition is triggered by a
medication or an infection.
Medication
and therapy causes
Drugs
that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
o
Anti-gout
medications, such as allopurinol
o
Pain
relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB,
others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve)
o
Medications
to fight infection, such as penicillin
o
Medications
to treat seizures or mental illness (anticonvulsants and antipsychotics)
o
Radiation
therapy
o
Infectious
causes
Infections
that can cause Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
o
Herpes
(herpes simplex or herpes zoster)
o
Pneumonia
o
HIV
o
Hepatitis
Risk factors
Factors
that increase your risk of developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome include:
o
Viral
infections. Your risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome may be increased if you have
an infection caused by a virus, such as herpes, viral pneumonia, HIV or
hepatitis.
o
Weakened
immune system. If you have a weakened immune system, you may have an increased
risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Your immune system can be affected by an
organ transplant, HIV/AIDS and autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
o
A
history of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If you've had a medication-related form of
this condition, you are at risk of a recurrence if you use that drug again.
o
A
family history of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. If an immediate family member has
had Stevens-Johnson syndrome or a related condition called toxic epidermal
necrolysis, you may be more susceptible to developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome
too.
o
Having
a certain gene. If you have a gene called HLA-B 1502, you have an increased
risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, particularly if you take certain drugs for
seizures or mental illness. Families of Chinese, Southeast Asian or Indian
descent are more likely to carry this gene.
Complications
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome complications include:
o
Secondary skin infection
(cellulitis).
Cellulitis can lead to life-threatening complications, including sepsis.
o
Blood infection (sepsis). Sepsis occurs when
bacteria from an infection enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your
body. Sepsis is a rapidly progressing, life-threatening condition that can
cause shock and organ failure.
o
Eye problems. The rash caused by
Stevens-Johnson syndrome can lead to inflammation in your eyes. In mild cases,
this may cause irritation and dry eyes. In severe cases, it can lead to
extensive tissue damage and scarring that results in blindness.
o
Damage to internal organs. It's unusual for this
condition to affect internal organs. But it may cause inflammation of the
lungs, heart, kidneys or liver.
Permanent skin damage. When your skin grows back
following Stevens-Johnson syndrome, it may have abnormal bumps and coloring.
And you may have scars. Lasting skin problems may cause your hair to fall out,
and your fingernails and toenails may not grow normally.
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