Thursday, 23 June 2016

Watch out! Inappropriate Use Of Medications May Cause A Life Threatening Skin Condition Known As Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome


Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome (SJS) is a rare skin condition resulting from a severe reaction to drugs.
Recently, in Kano State-Northern Nigeria, a 14-year Old girl-Amina Ibrahim recently died after she suffered an adverse reaction from the medicines she bought from a local pharmacy, popularly known as “Chemist” in Nigeria.
The Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr. Albert Alkali, confirmed “Investigations revealed that Amina suffered SJS due to the Sulphur-based chemicals in the drugs wrongly given to her to treat Malaria and Typhoid Fever”.
He said, “The patient took two tablets of Co-trimoxazole, an antibiotic given to her by a quack, who operates a chemist. When she noticed signs of itching, she went back to the chemist, who gave her another drug which is a Sulfa-based Anti-Malaria Drug.
The lady reacted to the drugs and began having uncontrollable burns which made her whole body turn black. 
Many people react to some components of drugs that chemist operators are unaware of. He however warned that "Nigerians that patronize illegal pharmacies are at risk of such unfamiliar attack”.

Other things you should know about the Steven-Johnson-Syndrome.
-          It is not contagious - it can’t be transmitted to another person like some other diseases such as Ebola or Lassa fever, it’s solely a person’s reaction to some certain drugs.
According to WebMD;
-          Drugs that can cause SJS include pain killers, Sulfa antibiotics that the user may react to and also medicines used in treating seizures and mental illness.
-          An infection such as pneumonia can also trigger SJS especially in kids.
-          Symptoms of SJS include blisters on the skin, painful red eye, also blisters on the mouth and other body parts which may cause difficulty in eating, swallowing and peeing.
-          It requires immediate emergency treatment in a proper medical facility to survive SJS.



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All contents here are opinions only. Please seek advice from your own doctor or other health practitioners regarding any issues concerning your own health or health of others.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for the info. More awareness is necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Knowledge is power. Didn't know reactions to drugs cld be this bad.

    ReplyDelete

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