So is Lyell syndrome different from Stevens-Johnson syndrome?
The Stevens-Johnson syndrome defines a skin infection of less than 10% of the total body surface. If up to 30% of the body surface is affected, it is called a transitional form. Skin infestation of more than 30% of the body surface is called toxic epidermal necrolysis.
This is also known as Lyell syndrome, if the disease was triggered by taking medication. This is a severe and life-threatening drug reaction. The drugs that can trigger toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell syndrome) are Phenytoin, sulfonamides, allopurinol and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine.
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