Woman’s Dreams Shattered by Rare⁣ Skin‌ Reaction ⁤to Antibiotics

Severe Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Causes Permanent Damage and ⁤Vision Loss

Sasinan ⁢Chuenrosang, a⁣ 31-year-old woman from⁢ Thailand, visited a hospital in Bangkok on June ‍18 with symptoms of sore throat ⁢and ⁤bloodshot eyes. ⁤She was diagnosed with tonsillitis and prescribed an ⁤antibiotic called Ceftriaxone. However, ⁤her symptoms worsened,‍ and she ⁢was prescribed the same antibiotic⁢ twice more, despite her condition deteriorating.

Chuenrosang’s symptoms worsened, and she developed a rash on her face and body, lost the sight​ in her left eye, and‌ experienced⁤ blurred vision, a swollen mouth, and difficulty walking.​ She was transferred to the intensive ⁢care unit,⁢ where she ‌was administered the same‌ antibiotic again. ⁣Afterward, she felt ⁣dizzy, and her right eye began to blur and lose sensation.

Chuenrosang⁣ was hospitalized in the intensive care‌ unit for seven⁢ days and then transferred to‌ another hospital, ‍where ‌she ⁤was diagnosed with‌ severe Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare disease that occurs on the skin and mucous membranes as a reaction to drugs or infections.

Chuenrosang is still receiving treatment to this day. She​ had ​to cut off⁣ her⁢ long hair⁤ due to⁣ the ​rash and ⁤has cuts around ‌her‍ eyes, mouth, forehead, ‌and ⁣cheeks. She wraps gauze ⁢around her neck to ⁤wipe away the blood⁢ and pus that is dripping from her face. She is also looking ‌for an ophthalmologist to⁣ help her regain ‌her ​vision and ‍is desperately ⁢hoping‌ to return to her normal life.

“The pain ⁤was so bad ⁤I thought I was going to die. My whole body felt like it was on fire and it was hot and stinging, and​ there are no words to describe what it ​felt like,” Chuenrosang⁣ said.​ “This⁣ disease shattered my dreams.”

Thailand’s deputy public health minister⁤ said ‌the government was ⁣investigating whether Chuenrosang’s treatment was “consistent with⁣ medical practice.”

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare disease that occurs on the skin and⁤ mucous membranes as⁢ a reaction to drugs or infections. It starts with flu-like symptoms, then a painful rash spreads and ​blisters​ appear. Then, ‍the outermost layer of ‍the⁢ infected skin dies and peels off, and it⁢ begins to heal. If it is a drug reaction, the‍ reaction⁤ to the drug can occur while taking the drug or for ​up‍ to two weeks after stopping taking it.

Symptoms may include fever, sore mouth and throat, fatigue, and ‌burning eyes 1-3 days before the rash appears. As the disease progresses, other symptoms may include unexplained ⁣widespread ​skin pain, a ​red or ⁢purple ⁣rash, blisters ⁤on the ⁣skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, ⁢nose, eyes, and genitals, and peeling of the ⁤skin within a few ⁣days after ‌the blisters ​appear.

Complications of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

According to the ⁣Mayo Clinic in the United‌ States, ⁣Stevens-Johnson syndrome can cause a variety⁣ of complications,‍ including:

* ⁢Dehydration: Fluids are lost ‍in the abraded area, and inflammation in the mouth and throat ⁣makes it difficult ‍to drink water.
* Blood infection (sepsis): Bacteria from the infection can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.
* Eye problems: The rash can cause eye ⁤inflammation, dry eyes, light sensitivity, and in severe cases, visual impairment and, in rare cases, blindness.
* Lung invasion: An emergency situation ⁣may occur where the lungs‌ cannot⁣ supply enough oxygen to the blood.
* Permanent⁢ skin damage: As the skin ‍regenerates, it may appear bumpy or abnormally pigmented (dyspigmentation). If the⁣ skin problem persists, hair loss may occur, ⁣and fingernails and toenails ⁣may not grow ​as well as they used to.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare‌ and unpredictable disease. Factors that increase the risk of developing the disease⁣ are known to​ include HIV infection, weakened‌ immune ‍system, cancer, history ⁢or​ family history of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and genetic factors. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a disease that requires immediate treatment, so if you have any suspicious symptoms, you should visit a ​hospital ⁢immediately.