Health & Medicine
Young Mother's Body 'Burns From The Inside Out' Due To Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Dec 10, 2014 06:00 PM EST
Yassmeen Castanada was feeling ill on Thanksgiving when her friend gave her the remainder of her antibiotic medication. Soon after the young mother started taking them, she felt severe burning in her eyes, nose and throat. When she was rushed to the emergency room, health officials found that the medicine was literally causing her to burn from the inside out.
"Her face changed within four days," Corona said in her interview with ABC News. "I would wipe her face and all the skin was just falling off."
Soon after, she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome-a rare but potentially fatal reaction to drugs that can occur even when drugs are taken as prescribed by a regular doctor.
Though health officials stress the importance of only taking prescribed medications, researchers added that they would have no way of knowing who would have this kind of reaction.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome causes inflammation and blistering on the outer layer of a person's skin, as well as the lips, eyes, and genitals. This inflammation and blistering leaves the patient incredibly vulnerable to infection, as well as being unable to properly balance electrolytes and remain hydrated. Because of that, patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome are treated like burn victims.
Castanada was later transferred to the University of Irvine's burn unit. However, doctors reported that over 70 percent of the young mother's body had been badly burned. Despite going through several surgeries, her feet are still blistering. Health officials have noted that she will survive the devastating ordeal.
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
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First Posted: Dec 10, 2014 06:00 PM EST
Yassmeen Castanada was feeling ill on Thanksgiving when her friend gave her the remainder of her antibiotic medication. Soon after the young mother started taking them, she felt severe burning in her eyes, nose and throat. When she was rushed to the emergency room, health officials found that the medicine was literally causing her to burn from the inside out.
"Her face changed within four days," Corona said in her interview with ABC News. "I would wipe her face and all the skin was just falling off."
Soon after, she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome-a rare but potentially fatal reaction to drugs that can occur even when drugs are taken as prescribed by a regular doctor.
Though health officials stress the importance of only taking prescribed medications, researchers added that they would have no way of knowing who would have this kind of reaction.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome causes inflammation and blistering on the outer layer of a person's skin, as well as the lips, eyes, and genitals. This inflammation and blistering leaves the patient incredibly vulnerable to infection, as well as being unable to properly balance electrolytes and remain hydrated. Because of that, patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome are treated like burn victims.
Castanada was later transferred to the University of Irvine's burn unit. However, doctors reported that over 70 percent of the young mother's body had been badly burned. Despite going through several surgeries, her feet are still blistering. Health officials have noted that she will survive the devastating ordeal.
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone