A Florida teenager has died because of a rare skin condition known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (or TEN). When a patient contracts TEN or the earlier stage of this skin condition known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, he or she develops blisters, burns, and rashes all over the skin, which can lead to death depending on the severity.

Wesley C. was 16-year-old boy when he contracted Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which progressed into TEN, the more serious form of this allergic skin reaction that is diagnosed when the SJS rashes and burns spread beyond 30 percent of the victim’s body.

According to the Science World Report, Wesley contracted TEN sometime around December 2014, at which time he exhibited SJS blisters that penetrated multiple skin layers. Much like other SJS and TEN patients, Wesley needed to be treated as if he were a burn-victim because the rashes and blisters were so severe.

Paul and Jamie, the parents of this young man, stated that their son’s condition started with flu-like symptoms that eventually developed into rashes and blisters covering his eyes, ears, mouth, and face.

While SJS and TEN usually occur as an allergic reaction to antibiotics, many different types of prescription and over-the-counter medications can result in TEN and SJS.

During Wesley’s stay at a Florida burn unit for continued monitoring and treatment, he appeared to be getting better when his parents left his bedside on Dec. 24. However, just a day later the teenager’s condition deteriorated.

By New Year’s Eve, Wesley’s TEN disease had worsened to the point that he experienced a 106 degree fever, which later caused all brain functions to stop. He died the same day.

SJS and TEN Allergic Reactions

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are painful skin conditions that can occur from a number of over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications.

When a person develops SJS and TEN, the top layer of skin becomes covered with a rash, burns, and blisters, which eventually causes the skin to fall off, leaving the sensitive mucous membrane open to infection.

While a person could potentially contract an SJS or TEN allergic reaction from any medication, certain drugs have a higher prevalence of SJS victims than others. These drugs include:

• Antibiotics
• Anticonvulsants
• Sulfa based drugs
• Bactrim
• Septra
• Acetaminophen
• Amoxicillin
• Azithromycin (Zithromax)
• Barbiturates
• Ibuprofen
• Penicillin
• Naproxen

Wesley’s TEN condition does not have a known cause, but could have feasibly been set off by any of the above listed classes of medications. Many individuals and families of individuals who have contracted SJS or TEN have filed Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuits or joined SJS class action lawsuits to seek compensatory and punitive damages from the manufacturers of these types of drugs linked with SJS or TEN.