Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

When Nichole Chapman, of Klamath Falls, Ore., was just 6 years old, she developed a severe skin rash that doctors diagnosed as a bad case of measles. But the rash turned into huge blisters and soon Nichole’s skin was peeling off her tiny body. Doctors began to realize that it wasn’t measles that was eating away at Nichole’s skin, it was a rare and potentially life threatening allergic reaction to medication known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS.

SJS, is a medical condition so rare that even doctors are baffled by it. But it can affect anyone. While it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly causes the condition, most medical experts say it is triggered by medication. It causes the skill to peel off, exposing the body to infection. Blisters can also form on the eyes and internal organs, causing blindness and other serious complications. Thousands of drugs have been linked to SJS, including anti-inflammatory medicines, anti-viral drugs, and antibiotics.

About 90 percent of Nichole’s body was affected by the condition, but she managed to survive. Nearly two decades later, Nichole still has adverse effects because of SJS. Her tear ducts were so badly damaged that she must have glass ones implanted every year to help maintain moisture in her eyes. She also has a limited diet because scar tissue has ravaged her throat.

Despite her struggles, Nichole is sharing her story with local media and the Discovery Health Channel in hopes of preventing others from becoming ill. “This can happen to anybody,” she told KTVL-TV.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 9:02 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.