0
In September 2020, a few days after giving birth, Aleshia Rogers was admitted in critical condition with an impactful picture. After taking ibuprofen twice a day to relieve some postpartum pain, she developed the most severe form of Stevens-Johnson (SSJ), a condition called toxic epidermal necrolysis (net).
Woman has severe reaction to ibuprofen and 95% of the skin loose from the body. Photo: Reproduction
Aleshia began to have symptoms similar to those of a flu, which ended up getting worse quickly. The picture evolved with the emergence of painful bubbles, swelling in the eyes and fever. She sought two hospitals, where she was diagnosed with conjunctivitis and scarlet fever, before being attended a third time and receiving the diagnosis of SSJ.
About 95% of her body skin released, forcing doctors to treat her as a serious patient with burns. Aleshia had to be transported by plane to a specialized hospital and received the news that she had only 3% chance of survival.
“I was placed in a fan with a fan and feeding probe for three weeks, I underwent full-bodied and graft skin excision and needed an amniotic membrane transplant for my eyes,” says the American.
The story was shared by Aleisha herself on her social networks and on the official page of the founding of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (FSSJ) in the United States, with the aim of alerting others to rare but possible risks of the indiscriminate use of common medicines such as ibuprofen.
“I should be at home with my baby, but I had to relearn to breathe, eat, talk and walk. The recovery was not just physical – it was emotional and spiritual. I changed forever,” he says.
What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome?
Stevens-Johnson syndrome in its most severe form, toxic epidermal necrolysis (net), is a rare but potentially fatal allergic reaction that usually occurs after the use of some medications. The initial manifestations of the reaction often remember a flu:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Discomfort
- Annomed eyes or with secretions
- Skin and mucous membrane injuries, such as mouth and genitals
Relationship between Ibuprofen and SSJ/NET
Ibuprofen, even sold without prescription, is among the medicines associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, according to FSSJ. The suspicion is that the substance provides an exaggerated immune response in people with genetic predisposition, especially in those who are using the drug for the first time.
The first signs usually appear one to three days after ingestion of the drug. The condition may progress quickly, leading to skin detachment, serious infections, organ failure and even death. Given any suspicious skin symptom after drug use such as ibuprofen, the medical recommendation is to suspend use and seek urgent care.
Treatment and Precautions
The key to survival in SJS/NET cases is at the immediate interruption of drug use and early on hospital treatment. Patients often need to be admitted to intensive care units or in centers specializing in burns, where they receive clinical support, hydration, antibiotics, painkillers and wound treatment.
In some cases, immunoglobulins and corticosteroids are used to try to contain the immune response. The earlier the intervention, the greater the chance of recovery and the lower the risks of permanent sequelae.
Years later, Aleshia still lives with the complications of SSJ/NET. She was diagnosed with gastroparesis and has daily difficulties with digestive, cardiac and nervous system problems.
“I suffer from constant sinus tachycardia, arrhythmias and autonomic dysfunction that many doctors do not fully understand. Sometimes my body still seems to be struggling to recover. But I never gave up,” he writes.
