The seven-fold rise in incidence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome & toxic epidermal necrolysis: Associations with COVID-19 and the vaccine

Burns

Clinical Summary

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What was studied

A case series describing SJS/TEN occurring after recent COVID-19 infection or vaccination and reporting incidence trends since the pandemic.

Key findings

The authors report a seven-fold increase in SJS/TEN since the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that this rise correlates with COVID infection and vaccination rates.

Study limitations

Case series without a comparator cannot establish causation; the abstract provides no sample size, setting, or incidence denominators; correlations with infection/vaccination may reflect confounding.

Clinical implications

Be alert to SJS/TEN as a potential post-COVID infection or post-vaccination event; take a recent COVID infection and vaccination history when evaluating suspected SJS/TEN, recognizing this is an association signal rather than proof of causality.