Causes Of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is usually caused by a response to a medicine that has been taken. The response may happen within one week to two months of taking the medicine. SJS may also be caused by infection, vaccinations, or diseases involving your organs or whole body. The cause of SJS may be unknown, and SJS risk may be genetic.

The most common medicines that may cause SJS are:

• Antibiotics (used to treat infection)
• Anti-seizure medicines (used to treat convulsions).
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (used to treat swelling or fever)
• Penicillins, which are used to treat infections

SJS causes are broken into four different categories:

• Infections 
• Drug Reactions   
• Malignancies 
• Unknown Causes.

Underlying viral infections that have been associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome include herpes simplex, AIDS, coxackie viral infections, influenza, hepatitis, mumps, mycoplasmal infections and others.
Bacterial infections include diphtheria, Brucellosis, mycobacteriae, mycoplasma pneumonia and typhoid. Fungal infections previously associated with SJS include coccidioidomycosis, dermatophytosis and histoplasmosis. Certain types of protozoal infections, including malaria and trichomoniasis, have also been reported. Although Stevens Johnson Syndrome is relatively rare in children, it has been associated with Epstein-Barr virus.

                  < Symptoms                          Diagnosis >

Posted in: Causes