Every year, approximately 300 people in the United States are diagnosed with the severe allergic reaction Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), which is often linked to medication. This condition, along with its more severe cousin Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), can be one of the most devastating side effects a patient could ever experience.

A mother from Indiana is currently dealing with the long-lasting effects of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which has been impacting the family’s fiances for years. Tiffany N. now lives with permanent complications caused by SJS.

Tiffany is the mother of two young children and the effects of Stevens Johnson Syndrome have left her 90% blind, permanently impacting her ability to keep up with her children. She told local news station ABC 57 that she has been repeatedly warned that the rest of her sight could go at any time, and that her condition could potentially get worse.

Tiffany was first diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome in 2006 when she was 17, so she has been living in constant fear of this condition for years.

Any patient who has been unfortunate enough to suffer Stevens Johnson Syndrome will tell stories of the horrid red or purple skin lesions that cover the body and often cause the skin to detach from the body.  The skin lesions that are left behind by SJS leave similar marks to burn injuries, often requiring skin grafts.

Tiffany reports that over 75% of her skin was covered in open wounds, causing her to lose her fingernails and toenails, and her eyelids to fuse together.

Despite the severity of her injuries, Tiffany has been forced to hold off on treatment due to how expensive Stevens Johnson treatment is. Along with the base cost of the procedure starting at $10,000, the surgery that Tiffany would need can only be conducted in Boston due the specialization required.

Tiffany says her insurance company twice denied her claim for the surgical treatment, which forced the family to pinch pennies and rely on credit cards for years. After a third attempt, her insurance finally approved the procedure after she was able to prove that it could save her sight.

While half of the operation expenses will be paid by insurance, Tiffany is not out of the woods yet and will not be until her SJS treatment is over. For now, Tiffany tells ABC 57 that she is just grateful she will be able to put presents under the tree this holiday, and is looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her kids.

Overview of Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis are extremely rare conditions that are not typically seen by physicians. These conditions are often caused by adverse allergic reactions to one or more medications, and are typically seen in adults more often than children. If either of these conditions were to occur, doctors warn that it would be within the first few weeks of starting the medication and would begin with flu-like symptoms.

The main difference between SJS and TEN is the amount of skin coverage the lesions take up on the patients; SJS skin blisters take up to 30% of the skin’s surface while TEN can consume as much as 90%.

Both of these conditions can be devastating to the patient if not diagnosed in time, and can have fatal consequences. The side effects left behind by these conditions include: blindness, skin scarring, fever, organ damage, and death.

Victims of SJS or TEN are often left with expensive medical bills and years of pain and suffering. As a result, many choose to sue drug manufacturers for failing to place warnings about Stevens Johnson Syndrome on drug labels. Some SJS lawsuit plaintiffs have been awarded millions of dollars in settlements with drug companies.