The Tragedy of Stevens Johnson Syndrome: The Children

September 18, 2010, 10:30AM. By Gordon Gibb

New Port Richey, FLWhen three-year-old Riley Jeanne Brown fractured her collarbone while playing one day, a doctor prescribed children's Motrin to ease the little girl's pain. After she came down with a fever, more Motrin was prescribed, along with Tylenol. But Riley got worse. It wasn't long before she was diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a life-threatening condition affecting the skin and mucous membranes.

According to the 9/17/10 edition of the St. Petersburg Times, Riley had to spend a total of 16 days in the intensive care unit of All Children's Hospital of St. Petersburg before she was moved to the regular floor for another ten days.

"I called the doctor and they said not to bring her in, that it was normal for the flu," Kristen Brown told the newspaper. "I should have listened to my motherly instinct, because the next morning when I woke up she was covered in blisters so bad her eyes were swollen shut."

It took a team of 14 doctors to ease little Riley back onto the road to recovery. On September 16 the Genesis School (East) of New Port Richey hosted the "Rally for Riley," to raise money for a family that—despite having health insurance—has incurred grievous expenses to save their daughter from SJS.

"As far as what we could cover out of pocket, we were probably maxed out on day two, but all we care about is our daughter's health," Kristen Brown said. "Now that the bills are coming in, we have been amazed by the support of people in the community. What Genesis School is doing for us, we couldn't be more grateful."

In the midst of the day of fun, which Riley enjoyed immensely, the pupil-of-honor was sporting sunglasses out of necessity. Her eyes have become extremely light-sensitive, to the point where the family has been forced to cover the television screen at home with a sheet to help shield their daughter from light. SJS is threatening her vision through the formation of scar tissue around her eyes.

Frank Mendellblatt, an ophthalmologist and one of the army of doctors who treated Riley, says the prognosis for the little girl's sight is uncertain. "We have to see how she progresses and what procedures she will need. I will do anything I can to help this girl. She is really a fighter."

Stevens Johnson Syndrome symptoms are rare, affecting six out of about a million people. SJS can be triggered by an infection or an adverse reaction to medication.

Riley's doctor suspects the latter in this case. "I'm very suspicious of Motrin in Riley's situation," Mendellblatt said.