Eighteen-year-old Kadeja Braham dreamed of being a model or a flight attendant. Recently, her dreams were crushed by a reaction to prescription medication.

From Healthy Teenager to Death’s Door

Braham reportedly took over-the-counter flu medicine on Christmas Day of 2013 before going to work at a clothing store in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Within 24 hours, she began develop the beginnings of a rash. At Kingston Public Hospital, physicians initially asked if she was having some sort of allergic reaction. Her symptoms rapidly escalated into Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or TEN. In the course of her illness, she was transferred to University Hospital, where she eventually passed on Jan. 16, 2014.

What is TEN?

TEN is a more severe form of Stevens Johnson Syndrome or SJS. In SJS, a person reacts, usually to a medication. The reaction short-circuits the immune system, causing it to attack its own skin as it would a bacteria or virus. This causes a painful skin rash with sores and ulcers. The damage of SJS mostly attacks the skin and mucous membranes (like the inside of the mouth). The most severe forms escalate to TEN, the condition that killed Braham. In TEN, patches of the skin die and slough off, leaving wounds very similar to thermal burns. Despite the seriousness of the disorder, it often starts with flu-like symptoms similar to those Braham experienced.

Mysteries of SJS/TEN

Unfortunately, medical science has not yet fully unraveled the details of TEN and SJS. While it appears that common over-the-counter medication caused Braham’s disorder, it’s almost impossible to predict who will get SJS and TEN—and what drugs will set it off. Drugs as common as Tylenol can trigger the reaction. And unfortunately, treatment is limited to supportive therapy. Supportive therapy consists of treating a patient’s symptoms and trying to keep them alive while the syndrome runs its course. This therapy can prove very expensive, as Braham’s family now faces $556,000 in medical bills from the attempts to save their daughter.

Legal Fallout from SJS/TEN

Lawsuits have been filed by patients suffering from SJS and TEN. These lawsuits allege that drug manufacturers were aware of the risks of SJS and TEN associated with their medications but failed to do enough to warn and protect the public. SJS/TEN lawsuits often seek the costs of medical care as well as lost wages and possibly even lost income potential.

If you or a loved one suffered from SJS or TEN after using medication, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. SJS and TEN are medical emergencies and require intensive medical care. This type of situation often carries substantial financial challenges. When facing such challenges, many people feel overwhelmed.