A Stevens Johnson Syndrome survivor is thriving in his senior year in high school despite the numerous setbacks he experienced the last two years during his SJS recovery.

High school student Jesus M. developed SJS two years ago as an adverse, allergic reaction to a medication he took to stave off infection. He soon began to develop an intense fever and SJS rashes across his body, which appeared similar to the lesions one would expect form a burn victim. In the most severe SJS cases, the top layer of skin detaches and falls off the patient’s body.

In Jesus’ SJS case, he suffered severe skin rashes, blisters, and lesions, which to this day have left him with scars and damaged skin. Stevens Johnson Syndrome even attacked his eyes, leaving Jesus with constant eye irritation and diminished vision, which could lead to permanent blindness.

However, the now high school senior is thriving in his recuperation in spite of the physical setbacks caused by his SJS condition. Jesus competes in the wrestling heavyweight division and is reportedly the most successful wrestler in his high school’s history and recently won his third wrestling title.

After just one month in his local hospital’s burn unit, Jesus was able to check out of treatment even though his doctors had originally thought he would be hospitalized for close to year to recover from his SJS reaction.

However, not all SJS victims are as lucky as this senior wrestler. Many SJS victims spend months hospitalized for treatment of Stevens Johnsons Syndrome. SJS can even be fatal.

SJS and TEN Allergic Reactions

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and a related condition known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are painful skin conditions that develop as reactions to 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 rashes, burns, and blisters, which eventually causes the skin to fall off, leaving the sensitive mucous membrane open to infection.

While a person could potentially contact 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
• Acetamenophin
• Amoxicillan
• Azithromycin (Zithromax)
• Barbiturates
• Ibuprofen-Motrin
• Penicillin
• Naproxen

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.