Friend Antibiotic Life - A 19-year-old woman is in critical condition from an allergic reaction. She is literally burning from inside out after she took a friend's prescribed medication.
"Heartbreaking, just unreal, just watching your daughter burn in front of you, literally burn in front of you," Laura Corona, the victim's mother said. "I would wipe her face and all the skin would all off."
According to local sources, Yaasmeen Castanada, a California college student and mother of a four-month-old baby girl, took a friend's antibiotic on Thanksgiving Day after feeling sick. But instead of getting better from the common cold and sore throat she had been experiencing, she grew worst less than 24 hours after taking the pills.
Castanada was rushed to the hospital after she started experiencing extricating burning pain from her eyes, nose and throat. Doctors at the University of California Irvine Medical Center admitted her into the burn ward, she is kept in a ventilator where she is currently receiving treatment.
Castanada has been diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a rare and severe allergic reaction of the skin and mucous membrane.
"About 70 percent of her body has been destroyed by the condition." Dr. Lawrence Matt, a dermatologist says. "It can be considered a burn from the inside out because of mucosal involvement."
"It is heartbreaking, everyday is a different look. Every say, she's like, shedding away...Overnight, it's a whole different person that you're looking at," her aunty Martha Hughes said.
Castanada, who is a sophomore studying civil engineering at California State, has already undergone some surgeries. Doctors say she will need to stay in the hospital for close observation and intensive rehabilitation.
"First of all, don't share medication, don't give someone else your medication, don't offer medication," Dr. Matt said. "Go get yourself checked out and your kids checked out, because you don't know what you're allergic to."
Despite the severe state of her condition, Castanada's family is optimistic of her recovery. They hope she can celebrate the festive seasons with them. Castanada is responding to treatment and will need a blood transfusion, physical, optical, occupational, dermatology, nutrition and burn therapy.
The family has opened a GoFundMe page to help raise money to cover the cost of her rising medical bills. Reports indicate that about 300 people have donated more than $10,000. The family hopes to raise $50,000.
