{"id":2789,"date":"2018-01-06T20:54:54","date_gmt":"2018-01-06T20:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=2789"},"modified":"2018-12-17T10:02:53","modified_gmt":"2018-12-17T16:02:53","slug":"pontiac-woman-credits-er-doctor-for-quick-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/pontiac-woman-credits-er-doctor-for-quick-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Pontiac woman credits ER doctor for quick diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ER<\/p>\n

When an annoying bug bite on the back of her leg became swollen and infected, Ann Finnegan went to OSF PromptCare<\/a> for medical attention.<\/p>\n

The 65-year-old Pontiac, Illinois, woman was prescribed a sulfur-based antibiotic, a medication Ann had taken in the past without any problems. She had taken the prescription for nine out of the 10 prescribed days when she developed a rash with big, red splotches over her entire body. That was on September 24, 2017. The following day, Ann went to her primary care provider and began a regular treatment for an allergic reaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cI received a steroid shot and then I was to start a steroid prescription the next day,\u201d Ann said.<\/p>\n

Later that evening, Ann\u2019s children stopped by to check on her. By then she had developed large blisters about 2 inches across at the pressure points where her legs and arms pressed against the chair where she was sitting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also had a slight fever and was having difficulty swallowing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Ann\u2019s daughter-in-law checked on her the next morning. Ann\u2019s fever had spiked to 103 degrees and there were more blisters.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe hustled me out to the car and we went to the ER\u201d at OSF HealthCare Saint James \u2013 John W. Albrecht Medical Center<\/a>, she said.<\/p>\n

A quick diagnosis<\/h2>\n

Ann was seen by Dr. Patrick Dowling<\/a>, a staffing decision she credits with likely saving her from long-lasting effects from her condition.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Dowling knew immediately what I had and where I needed to go to get treatment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Ann was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome<\/a>, a rare condition with only about 20,000 cases reported a year in the U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Dowling knew exactly what I had. He even sent one of the younger doctors in to check me out. He told him \u2018You need to see this because you may never see this again in 20 years,\u2019\u201d Ann said.<\/p>\n

Stevens-Johnson syndrome\u00a0is a rare, serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes. It\u2019s usually a reaction to a medication or an infection. Often, it begins with flu-like\u00a0symptoms, followed by a painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters. Complications include dehydration, sepsis, pneumonia and multiple organ failure.<\/p>\n

Ann was sent to the Loyola Burn Center. The treatment for Stevens-Johnson syndrome is similar to that of a burn victim because the skin loses connection and sloughs off. Every day, Ann\u2019s wounds were debrided, where the unhealthy or dead tissue was removed to promote healing and protect from infection.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe debriding was painful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Ann also had blistering inside her mouth, which is why she was having difficulty swallowing.<\/p>\n

While at Loyola, an ophthalmologist visited every day to check Ann\u2019s eyes because the rash caused by Stevens-Johnson syndrome can lead to inflammation of the eyes. In mild cases, it presents as irritation and dry eyes. In severe cases, it can lead to extensive tissue damage and scarring resulting in visual impairment.<\/p>\n

Healing at home<\/h2>\n

Today, Ann\u2019s skin is healing. She still has large, red splotches that she applies lotion to each morning and night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not in pain, it\u2019s not itching,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of time before I\u2019m completely healed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ann praises the level of care she received at OSF St. James, Loyola and her primary care provider for her follow-up care.<\/p>\n

\u201cI only spent 12 days in the burn unit. It could have been much more if Dr. Dowling hadn\u2019t known what I had and got me treatment very quickly,\u201d Ann said. \u201cI could have come home with a lot more lasting effects.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When an annoying bug bite on the back of her leg became swollen and infected, Ann Finnegan went to OSF PromptCare for medical attention. The 65-year-old Pontiac, Illinois, woman was prescribed a sulfur-based antibiotic, a medication Ann had taken in the past without any problems. She had taken the prescription for nine out of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":5221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[223],"tags":[576,222],"coauthors":[688],"class_list":["post-2789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patient-story","tag-osf-saint-james","tag-rash"],"yoast_head":"\nPontiac woman credits ER doctor for quick diagnosis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When a bug bite on the back of her leg became swollen and infected, Ann Finnegan didn't know it would soon develop into a rare condition.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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