Girl suffers SJS after receiving tetanus shot
February 23rd, 2009 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
A 7-year-old girl who received a tetanus shot along with several other children at school is now in Sentra Medika Hospital in Cimanggis, Depok, receiving treatment for Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), according to The Jakarta Globe.
The shot was administered to students at several schools in the West Java Province as part of the government’s national immunization program. No other children reported having severe problems, but shortly after receiving the vaccine, the young Syadiah came down with a fever and began complaining of joint pain. A health care provider gave her paracetamol syrup and an “unknown powdered medicine.” But the little girl’s health continued to fail. She started developing rashes over her body and blisters broke out on her skin, lips, tongue and gums. She was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with SJS.
SJS is a severe adverse reaction to medication that affects about one in a million people each year. There are as many as 200 medications linked to SJS, most commonly antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, anti-viral medications such as those for HIV/AIDS, and anti-seizure medicines. As the condition progresses, skin can peel off leaving the body susceptible to infection and possibly even death.
A health official in Depok debunked the notion that medical malpractice is to blame for the girl’s SJS. He is concerned that media coverage of the adverse reaction may scare people from having their children immunized.
“The media’s focus on the wrong reasons behind [Syadiah’s] condition could put the nation in greater danger,” he said.