Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

List of symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome includes the 28 symptoms listed below:

• Skin lesions (painful)
• Skin blisters
• Mucous membrane lesions
• Mouth rash
• Mouth blisters
• Throat rash
• Throat blisters
• Anus rash
• Anus blisters
• Genital rash
• Genital blisters
• Conjunctival rash
• Conjunctival blisters
• Target shaped blisters on the eyes
• Skin
• Mouth or genitals
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Malaise
• Mild itching
• Burning sensation
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Fever
• Mucous membrane ulcers
• Painful skin blisters
• Mouth blisters
• Painful conjunctivitis

Note that Stevens-Johnson Syndrome symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Stevens-Johnson Syndrome signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Do I have Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Introduction
• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Treatments for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• More about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Wrongly Diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome includes:

• Pemphigus
• Bullous pemphigoid
• Drug eruption
• Bullous impetigo
• Contact dermatitis

See the full list of 19 alternative diagnoses for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

More about symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome:

More information about symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Underlying causes of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Risk factors for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Anus blisters - see all causes of Anal symptoms
• Anus rash - see all causes of Anal rash
• Burning sensation - see all causes of Burning symptoms
• Conjunctival blisters - see all causes of Eye symptoms
• Fever - see all causes of Fever
• Fever - see all causes of Fever
• Genital blisters - see all causes of Genital sores
• Genital rash - see all causes of Genital rash
• Joint pain - see all causes of Joint pain
• Malaise - see all causes of Malaise
• Mild itching - see all causes of Itching skin
• Mouth blisters - see all causes of Mouth ulcers
• Mouth blisters - see all causes of Mouth ulcers
• Mouth rash - see all causes of Mouth redness
• Muscle pain - see all causes of Muscle pain
• Skin blisters - see all causes of Blisters
• Skin lesions (painful) - see all causes of Skin lesion
• Throat blisters - see all causes of Throat ulcers
• Throat rash - see all causes of Red throat
• Tiredness - see all causes of Tiredness

Medical Books Online about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Genital herpes: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

After a 3- to 7-day incubation period, fluid-filled vesicles appear, usually on the cervix (the primary infection site) and possibly on the labia, perianal skin, vulva, or vagina of the female and on the glans penis, foreskin, or penile shaft of the male. Extragenital lesions may appear on the mouth or anus. In both males and females, the vesicles, usually painless at first, will rupture and develop into extensive, shallow, painful ulcers, with redness, marked edema, tender inguinal lymph nodes, and the characteristic yellow, oozing centers.

Other features of initial mucocutaneous infection include fever, malaise, dysuria and, in females, leukorrhea. Rare complications (generally from extragenital lesions) include herpetic keratitis, which may lead to blindness, and potentially fatal herpetic encephalitis.

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Herpes simplex: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

In neonates, HVH symptoms usually appear 1 to 2 weeks after birth. They range from localized skin lesions to a disseminated infection of organs, such as the liver, lungs, or brain. Common complications include seizures, mental retardation, blindness, chorioretinitis, deafness, microcephaly, diabetes insipidus, and spasticity. Up to 90% of infants with disseminated disease die.

Primary infection in childhood may be localized or generalized and occurs after an incubation period of 2 to 12 days. After brief prodromal tingling and itching, localized infection causes typical primary lesions. These erupt as vesicles on an erythematous base, eventually rupture and leave a painful ulcer, followed by a yellowish crust. Vesicles may form on any part of the oral mucosa, especially the tongue, gingiva, and cheeks. Healing begins 7 to 10 days after onset and is complete in 3 weeks.

Generalized infection begins with fever, pharyngitis, erythema, and edema. Vesicles occur with submaxillary lymphadenopathy, increased salivation, halitosis, anorexia, and a fever of up to 105° F (40.6° C). Herpetic stomatitis may lead to severe dehydration in children. A generalized infection usually runs its course in 4 to 10 days. In this form, virus reactivation causes cold sores — a single or group of vesicles in and around the mouth.

Genital herpes usually affects adolescents and young adults. Typically painful, the initial attack produces fluid-filled vesicles that ulcerate and heal in 1 to 3 weeks. Fever, regional lymphadenopathy, and dysuria may also occur.

Usually, herpetic keratoconjunctivitis is unilateral and causes only local signs and symptoms: conjunctivitis, regional adenopathy, blepharitis, and vesicles on the lid. Other ocular effects may include excessive lacrimation, edema, chemosis, photophobia, and purulent exudate.

Both types of HVH can cause acute sporadic encephalitis with altered level of consciousness, personality changes, and seizures. Other effects may include smell and taste hallucinations and neurologic abnormalities such as aphasia.

Herpetic whitlow, an HVH finger infection, affects many nurses. First the finger tingles and then it becomes red, swollen, and painful. Vesicles with a red halo erupt and may ulcerate or coalesce. Other effects may include satellite vesicles, fever, chills, malaise, and a red streak up the arm.

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Stomatitis and other oral infections: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Acute herpetic stomatitis begins suddenly with mouth pain, malaise, lethargy, anorexia, irritability, and fever, which may persist for 1 to 2 weeks. Gums are swollen and bleed easily, and the mucous membrane is extremely tender.

Papulovesicular ulcers appear in the mouth and throat and eventually become punched-out lesions with reddened areolae. Submaxillary lymphadenitis is common. Pain usually disappears 2 to 4 days before healing of ulcers is complete. If the child with stomatitis sucks his thumb, these lesions spread to the hand.

A patient with aphthous stomatitis typically reports burning, tingling, and slight swelling of the mucous membrane. Single or multiple shallow ulcers with whitish centers and red borders appear and heal at one site and then reappear at another. (See Looking at aphthous stomatitis.)

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Toxic epidermal necrolysis: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Early symptoms include inflammation of the mucous membranes, a burning sensation in the conjunctivae, malaise, fever, and generalized skin tenderness. After such prodromal symptoms, TEN erupts in three phases:

❑ diffuse, erythematous rash

❑ vesiculation and blistering

❑ large-scale epidermal necrolysis and desquamation.

Large, flaccid bullae that rupture easily expose extensive areas of denuded skin, permitting both loss of tissue fluids and electrolytes and widespread systemic involvement. Systemic complications may include bronchopneumonia, pulmonary edema, GI and esophageal hemorrhage, shock, renal failure, sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation; these conditions markedly increase the likelihood of mortality.

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Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

SSSS can usually be traced to a prodromal upper respiratory tract infection, possibly with concomitant purulent conjunctivitis. Cutaneous changes progress through three stages:

❑ Erythema: Erythema, which may begin diffusely or as a scarlatiniform rash, usually becomes visible around the mouth and other orifices and may spread in widening circles over the entire body surface. The skin becomes tender; Nikolsky’s sign (sloughing of the skin when friction is applied) may appear.

❑ Exfoliation (24 to 48 hours later): In the more common, localized form of this disease, superficial erosions with a red, moist base and minimal crusting occur, generally around body orifices, and may spread to exposed areas of the skin. (See Identifying staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.) In the more severe forms of this disease, large, flaccid bullae erupt and may spread to cover extensive areas of the body. These bullae eventually rupture, revealing sections of denuded skin; mucous membranes are spared.

❑ Desquamation: In this final stage, affected areas dry up, and powdery scales form. Normal skin replaces these scales in 5 to 7 days.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Herpes simplex: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Primary infection in childhood may be generalized or localized.

In neonates, HVH symptoms usually appear 1 to 2 weeks after birth. They range from localized skin lesions to a disseminated infection of such organs as the liver, lungs, and brain. Common complications include seizures, mental retardation, blindness, chorioretinitis, deafness, microcephaly, diabetes insipidus, and spasticity. Neonates with disseminated disease have a high mortality.

Generalized infection

After an incubation period of 2 to 12 days, onset of generalized infection begins with fever, pharyngitis, erythema, and edema. After brief prodromal tingling and itching, typical primary lesions erupt as vesicles on an erythematous base, eventually rupturing and leaving a painful ulcer, followed by a yellowish crust. Healing begins 7 to 10 days after onset and is complete in 3 weeks.

Vesicles may form on any part of the oral mucosa, especially the tongue, gingiva, and cheeks. In generalized infection, vesicles occur with submaxillary lymphadenopathy, increased salivation, halitosis, anorexia, and a temperature as high as 105° F (40.6° C). Herpetic stomatitis may lead to severe dehydration in children.

A generalized infection usually runs its course in 4 to 10 days. In this form, virus reactivation causes cold sores — single or grouped vesicles in and around the mouth.

Localized infection

Genital herpes usually affects adolescents and young adults. Typically painful, the initial attack produces fluid-filled vesicles that ulcerate and heal in 1 to 3 weeks. Fever, regional lymphadenopathy, and dysuria may also occur.

Usually, herpetic keratoconjunctivitis is unilateral and causes only local symptoms, including conjunctivitis, regional adenopathy, blepharitis, and vesicles on the lid. Other ocular symptoms may be excessive lacrimation, edema, chemosis, photophobia, and purulent exudate.

Other signs and symptoms

Both types of HVH can cause acute sporadic encephalitis with an altered level of consciousness, personality changes, and seizures. Other effects include smell and taste hallucinations and neurologic abnormalities such as aphasia.

Herpetic whitlow, an HVH finger infection, commonly affects health care workers. First, the finger tingles and then it becomes red, swollen, and painful. Vesicles with a red halo erupt and may ulcerate or coalesce. Other effects may include satellite vesicles, fever, chills, malaise, and a red streak up the arm.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Stomatitis and other oral infections: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Acute herpetic stomatitis begins with burning mouth pain. In immunocompromised individuals, reactivation of the herpes simplex virus infection may be frequent and severe. Gums are swollen and bleed easily, and the mucous membranes are extremely tender. Papulovesicular ulcers appear in the mouth and throat and eventually become punched-out lesions with reddened areolae. The small vesicles rupture and form scales. Another common finding is submaxillary lymphadenitis.

Pain usually disappears from 2 to 4 days before healing of ulcers is complete.

A patient with aphthous stomatitis will typically report burning, tingling, and slight swelling of the mucous membrane. Single or multiple, small round ulcers with whitish centers and red borders appear and heal at one site but then appear at another. The painful stage lasts 7 to 10 days, with healing complete in 1 to 3 weeks.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

SSSS commonly can be traced to a prodromal upper respiratory tract infection, possibly with concomitant purulent conjunctivitis. Cutaneous changes progress through three stages.

Erythema

In the first stage, erythema becomes visible, usually around the mouth and other orifices, as well as body fold areas, and may spread in widening circles over the entire body surface. The skin becomes tender; Nikolsky’s sign (sloughing of the skin when friction is applied) may appear.

Exfoliation

About 24 to 48 hours later, exfoliation occurs. In the more common, localized form of this disease, superficial erosions and minimal crusting develop, generally around body orifices, and may spread to exposed areas of the skin.

In the more severe forms of this disease, large, flaccid bullae erupt and may spread to cover extensive areas of the body. These bullae eventually rupture, revealing denuded skin.

Desquamation

In this final stage, affected areas dry up and powdery scales form. Normal skin replaces these scales in 5 to 7 days.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome:

SJS is characterized by painful, blistery lesions on the skin and the mucous membranes (the thin, moist tissues that line body cavities) of the mouth, throat, genital region, and eyelids. SJS can cause serious eye problems, such as severe conjunctivitis; iritis, an inflammation inside the eye; corneal blisters and erosions; and corneal holes. In some cases, the ocular complications from SJS can be disabling and lead to severe vision loss. (Source: excerpt from Facts About the Cornea and Corneal Disease: NEI)

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, it is also important to consider Stevens-Johnson Syndrome as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Stevens-Johnson Syndrome may cause:

• Conjunctivitis
• Dry eyes
• Eosinophilia
• Genital ulcers
• Intraepidermal blistering
• Keratitis
• Nikolsky sign
• Oral ulceration
• Vesiculo-bullous rash

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• More about Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. This signs and symptoms information for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome signs or Stevens-Johnson Syndrome symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome symptoms.