A man who dismissed a sore throat as a bout of the flu was struck down with a rare medical condition which left him with weeping sores and 'reptilian' scales across his body. Cinema attendant Kevin Mannion dismissed his flu-like symptoms and refused medical treatment despite pleas from his partner.

 

Six days later the 33-year-old's fiancée went to kiss him one morning but found his eyes and mouth fastened shut and blisters across his body.

 

Mr Mannion was rushed to Warrington Hospital in Cheshire, where he was diagnosed with the rare disorder Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

 

His 30-year-old fiancée Tanya Jackson, with whom he has two children Aaron, six, and Eva, three, said: 'My heart broke at the sight of him. I never could have imagined a sore throat could be so dangerous. He looked horrific, he was trembling violently and blistered beyond recognition. His blisters began to bubble and he developed reptile-like scales on his back. His eyelids became so swollen and puffy they looked like lips. 

 

'His lips blackened and the skin inside and around his mouth blistered, then flaked off. And his mouth was so swollen shut with abscesses, I thought he was going to die. As a typical bloke he refused to get help, so I didn't think it could have been serious. But two days later he developed cold sweats and uncontrollable shivers and started hallucinating. Still he refused to get help not wanting to make a fuss. One morning the children wanted cuddles with dad. Aaron stared in horror and asked me what was wrong with his daddy, and Eva's lip began to quiver. 

 

Stevens-Johnson syndrome 

. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare but serious disorder that affects the skin, mucous membrane, genitals and eyes. 

. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is usually caused by an unpredictable adverse reaction to certain medications. It can also sometimes be caused by an infection.

. The syndrome often begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a red or purple rash that spreads and forms blisters. The affected skin eventually dies and peels off.

. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a medical emergency that requires treatment in hospital, often in intensive care or a burns unit.

Source: NHS

 

A doctor initially thought Mr Mannion had sepsis before a specialist skin surgeon diagnosed Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Mr Mannion spent an additional month recovering at home before he was allowed back to work. He still suffers with a cough, scarring on his back and a crackle in his left lung as a lasting effect of pneumonia.

 

Ms Jackson added: 'It was horrifying. The doctor's fears intensified our own. I assumed Kev was going to die. I honestly thought I'd lost him, but Kev is a fighter. I just hope that by sharing his story, it will raise awareness of this potentially deadly condition. Stevens-Johnson syndrome could have killed my Kev, but he was one of the lucky ones. But still, I find it hard to believe all this stemmed from a sore throat.' 

Dailymail