14 Symptoms of Steven Johnson Syndrome

2. Headache and Brain Fog

Along with flu-like symptoms, it is also common to experience a headache and brain fog in response to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. This is due to the production of ‘pro-inflammatory cytokines’. These substances are part of the immune response – and as the name suggests they are responsible for increasing inflammation and thereby helping to make the environment of your body less hospitable to invaders.

While this can cause obvious side effects such as joint pain and tiredness, the swelling also leads to other less obvious symptoms – including brain fog and tiredness.

The reason for this is that inflammation can also occur in the brain. When pro-inflammatory cytokines affect the brain, they can cause grogginess and make it difficult to think. This is why we often don’t have much motivation when we’re ill – and it might even be one of the causes of depression.