A new deadly disease known as Stephen Johnson Syndrome (SJS), an unusual allergic reaction, has surfaced in Nigeria, according to the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole.
According to Adewole, the disease has killed one person, while another is being treated at the National Hospital Abuja. The health minister announced the emergence of the new disease in Nigeria at a press briefing in Abuja earlier today...
A Senior Consultant Physician/Dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Olanrewaju Falodun who spoke about the disease, said
“Stephens Johnson Syndrome, is an immune complex mediated hypersensitivity reaction that typically involves the skin and mucous membranes and was first described in 1922 by Albert Stevens and Frank Johnson. SJS is a rare and unpredictable reaction, and is also a minor form of toxic epidermal necrolysis with less than 10 percent body surface area involvement. SJS is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening contagious drug reaction. Incidence of SJS is estimated between 1.1 and 7.1 cases per million per year and is more prevalent in women than men. Incidence in Europe is two per million per year” he said.
He listed the symptoms of the SJS disease to include fever, sore throat, running nose, fatigue, general aches and pains, ulcers in mouth, genitals, anal regions as well as conjunctivitis.
According to him, the health complications of the disease includes pigmentation problems, skin scarring, scarred genitals, joint pains, lung diseases, obstructive disorders and eye complications, adhesions, ulcers, and blindness.
He said the cause of the disease has not yet been discovered in a quarter to half of cases but that self-medications appeared to be one of its causes. He advised Nigerians to avoid misuse of drugs, while individuals with previous drug reactions should always inform healthcare practitioners.
The Minister of Health says efforts are now being made to sensitize the public about the disease
“We have to find a means to communicate with Nigerians,so they should all be aware of this dangerous disease and it is the sole business of government to enlighten the society by trying to increase their awareness, knowledge and to improve their quality way of life.”
A pathologist, Dr. Idris Durojaiye, described SJS as “a very severe reaction to drugs.”
He said, “The whole skin will peel off but it is usually linked to a drug that the person has taken, so if there is an outbreak, it is because people are reacting to a particular drug being circulated.
“It is usually doctors that can try to identify the drugs that may be responsible because if there is an outbreak, it means there is a pattern. So basically, it is the duty of the health authorities to trace the pattern to know if there is a particular drug that is responsible for it.
“Normally, a patient cannot know if he would react to a drug because you cannot know if you have never reacted to the drug before. So my advice is that whatever drugs that people have reacted to in the past, they should try and avoid it. But the problem is that if you have never taken a drug before, you cannot know if you will react to it.
“If the health authorities can find out if the patients took something that is common to both of them; there has to be a link somewhere if the patients are in the same location.”
Former Chairman and Secretary, Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Olusola Olowoselu, described SJS as not completely new.
He said, “It is something we in the medical profession encounter from time to time in the hospital. The disease is mostly managed by dermatologists.
“We encounter it all the time especially among patients using certain types of drugs like Septrin, Metirapin, and a host of others. Some individuals are sensitive and so their bodies react to medications in different ways.
“Beyond medications, infection can also play a role in persons being afflicted with the ailment. It is something we see and deal with all the time in the hospital.”
The Medical Director of OAR Hospital, Ile-Epo, Lagos, Dr. Abiodun Ojifinni, also said that SJS was not a new disease in Nigeria and that it does not break out regularly.
Ojifinnin identified the symptoms of the disease as rashness all over the human body and fever, among others.
“The disease is contagious and once it kills one or two people, it disappears to break out some years later,” he said.
The symptoms of the disease include facial swelling, tongue swelling, hives, skin pain, blisters on the skin and shedding of the skin, according to Mayo Clinic.
It described the disease as a “rare and unpredictable reaction”, which is usually “triggered by a medication or an infection.”
Drugs identified as possible causes of SJS include anti-gout medications, such as allopurinol; pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others); and naproxen sodium (Aleve).
Others include medications to fight infection, such as penicillin, medications to treat seizures or mental illness (anticonvulsants and antipsychotics) and radiation therapy
The clinic identified infections that can cause the disease to include: “Herpes (herpes simplex or herpes zoster); Pneumonia; HIV and Hepatitis.”
In the United States, about 300 new diagnoses are made each year. The condition is more common in adults than in children. Women are affected more often than men, with cases occurring at a two to one ratio.
If 10 per cent of the body surface area is involved, the disease has a mortality rate of around five per cent. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This is a sign of mediocrity and backwardness. SJS is a severe form of allergic reaction that was discovered long time ago. it is non communicable, it is not new in Nigeria and it can be managed or treated. Why do you want to raise false alarm and cause panic as if a new communicable disease has been discovered?
ReplyDeletePls hire a medical correspondence to edit your medical news headlines! SJS is nothing new. It's just rare. Stop causing panic with your headlines
ReplyDeleteWow disgraceful article!! This is an hypersensitivity reaction to some drugs. It is non communicable, it is not new and can treated daily easily. I think the article should be taken down as it can cause an unnecessary panic.
ReplyDelete