What Causes Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)?
Although doctors can easily recognize the existence of Stevens Johnson Syndrome once the skin lesions appear, they are at a loss to describe the specific mechanism that causes the condition. In some cases, SJS is caused due to viral infection that irritates the mucous membranes and blood vessels underneath the skin, which in turn causes rashes, blisters, and lesions to appear. Some of these infections include herpes simplex, the flu, Epstein Barr virus, mumps, histoplasmosis, or cat-scratch fever. One of the more frequent causes of Stevens Johnson Syndrome is the use of certain drugs. These drugs usually contain a compound called sulfonamide, which is usually the culprit in SJS cases because it can cause an extreme allergic reaction in sensitive people.
