The Federal Government on Friday alerted Nigerians to the outbreak of a killer disease known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in the country.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who announced the outbreak of the disease at a news conference in Abuja, said the disease had killed one person.


He added that another person affected by the disease was responding to treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Urging Nigerians not to panic, Adewole said that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to check the outbreak.

The minister described the health condition as an unusual allergic reaction to medications found in Nigeria and some parts of Europe.

“We have to find a means to communicate with Nigerians, so they should all be aware of this dangerous disease and it is the sole business of the government to enlighten the society by trying to increase their awareness, knowledge and to improve their quality way of life.”


The minister urged Nigerians to be vigilant and seek urgent medical attention should they notice any sign of a rare disease.

He announced that the call became necessary considering the fact that a sibling of marathoner, Fedeshola Adedayo, died of the ailment.

He called for increased awareness in the use of drugs and in the reading of drug leaflets.

At the press conference, a Senior Consultant Physician/Dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Olanrewaju Falodun, explained the symptoms of the disease and the cases being treated in his hospital.

“SJS is an immune complex mediated hypersensitivity reaction that typically involves the skin and mucous membranes and was first described in 1922 by Albert Stevens and Frank Johnson,” Falodun said.

“SJS is a rare and unpredictable reaction, and is also a minor form of toxic epidermal necrolysis with less than 10 per cent body surface area involvement.”

“SJS is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening contagious drug reaction. Incidence of SJS is estimated between 1.1 and 7.1 cases per million per year and is more prevalent in women than men. Incidence in Europe is two per million per year.”

According to him the health complications include pigmentation problems, skin scarring, scarred genitals, joint pains, lung diseases, obstructive disorders and eye complications, adhesions, ulcers, and blindness.

The management of the disease include cessation of suspected drugs; hospital admission, preferably in burns unit/intensive care; nutritional and fluid replacement; temperature maintenance; pain relief and mouth care.

A pathologist, Dr. Idris Durojaiye, described SJS as “a very severe reaction to drugs.”


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Saint Johnson syndrome

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