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A case of
Steven's Johnson syndrome
This is the case of
Master P.S (Patient Ref. No. L-6671), a 11 years old
male child who was brought to the clinic for complaints of
hypersensitivity of the eyes especially to bright light.
Patient would be unable to open his eyes in bright light
and he had repetitive blinking of the eyes. Patient also
had conjunctival redness and dryness of the eyes. He would
experience much difficulty in opening the eyes in the
morning on account of the extreme dryness of the eyes.
The complaints had started since 1 year when he had been
diagnosed as having Steven's Johnson syndrome. At that
time patient had developed reaction to certain drugs and
thereafter he had developed some rashes all over the body.
The rashes had involved the skin as well as the eyes at
that time. He had required admission in the hospital at
that time and was treated for the same. But even after
completing the treatment, the symptoms of photophobia and
dryness of eyes and conjunctival redness persisted. He was
on eye-drops that would give him symptomatic relief
temporarily (artificial tears) but was not taking care of
he underlying cause. He would have to use these drops
every 2 hours but it was difficult for him to keep a track
of this all the day long, every single day.
He also had complaints of frequent colds for past 3 years
and he would get these colds once every 2-3 months and
lasting for a week.
His appetite was average and he was more fond of pizzas
and such foods rather than the regular home made food. He
had aversion to sweets and milk. He would occasionally
talk in sleep, otherwise the sleep was sound.
He stayed with his parents, grandparents and a younger
brother. There was no history of any major illness in the
past. In the family, his grandparents had hypertension and
diabetes. He was very active and an alert child and he
loved to play. He had become irritable since the onset of
this illness and he would get angry if anybody would not
listen to him. He had become obstinate too and would
threaten his mother that he would not put his eye-drops if
he was not obeyed. He was very tolerant of his problems
and would not express them to others; he would keep it to
himself. Even if he would get hurt while playing or would
get injured some other times, he would not tell anyone at
home. Basically he was a very naughty and playful child.
Based on this history, he was prescribed a homoeopathic
medicine named Pulsatilla alongwith a few doses of
Carcinosin and he was significantly better in a span of 4
months itself. His photophobia was much better and the
dryness of the eyes was completely gone. He could open the
eyes in the morning with much lesser discomfort as
compared to before. The conjunctival redness which would
be persistent always was completely gone. His complaints
of recurrent colds also improved gradually. What was
achieved in this case was a relative freedom from the
dependence of the patient on certain eye-drops which would
give him very temporary relief. His other ophthalmic
complaints, which he had become used to living with, were
also tackled effectively with homoeopathic treatment. He
continued treatment for some more time for complete relief
from the remaining symptoms.
Remark: The remedy prescribed in this case is
patient-specific i.e. it has been prescribed based on the
symptoms specific to the patient at that point of time. It
is advisable that the patient does not indulge in any
self-medication. |
