Steven Johnson Syndrome not discovered in Nigeria – Health minister

May 15, 2016 210 Views Comment Off

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has said contrary to reports making the rounds, Steven Johnson Syndrome, SJS, a rare medical condition caused by adverse drug reaction, is not a new disease and it was not discovered in Nigeria.

Adewole, who cautioned Nigerians to avoid self-medication and to be mindful of SJS, said the condition was first discovered in 1922 and could occur following use of prescribed drugs by medical experts.

Issuing the warning weekend in a statement entitled: “Steven Johnson Syndrome in Nigeria: Setting the record straight”, the Minister encouraged Nigerians to always report every case of adverse drug reactions through the Pharmacovigilance unit of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

Professor Isaac Adewole

On the 13th of May 2016, Adewole had flagged off a 17-day marathon race from Abuja to Lagos, organised by the Federal Ministries of Health and Information and Culture in partnership with a marathon runner, Mr Fadesola Adedayo, whose brother, Dr Adeyosola Adedayo, died in 2012 due to an adverse drug reaction to medications he took after sustaining a needle stick injury while managing a patient living with HIV.

“He was managed for Stephen Johnson Syndrome at Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba and died after few days due to severity of the disease.”
Adewole who praised the marathoner’s positive attitude of remembering the death of his brother by creating awareness through his 17-day marathon mentioned that Steven Johnson Syndrome is not a new disease,

In support of Mr Adedayo’s marathon race, Adewole directed all Federal Health Institutions along the track of the marathon race to offer free ambulance and emergency services to the runner.

Earlier, Mr, Falodun , a Consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, delivered a lecture on SJS emphasising that it is a rare disease that could occur following drug use. He described the common symptoms, health complications and treatment options.