Model suffers severe rashes, partial blindness after repeated allergic reaction to antibiotics

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is characterised by painful, blistering rashes that spread rapidly. (Image: nhs.uk)

A devastating medical ordeal has turned the life of a 31-year-old Thai swimsuit model upside down after she was repeatedly administered antibiotics to which she was severely allergic. Sasinan Chuenlosang, an IT professional and part-time model, was given the drug three times despite her worsening symptoms, leading to severe rashes, blisters, and partial blindness.

"The pain was so bad that I really felt like I was going to die. It was intense. My entire body was burning and sore. There are no words strong enough to describe how it felt," Chuenlosang told Viral Press, recounting her harrowing experience.

Her troubles began on June 18 when she visited a hospital in Bangkok, complaining of a sore throat and red eyes. Diagnosed with tonsillitis, she was administered Ceftriaxone, a commonly used antibiotic for bacterial infections. However, instead of providing relief, the medication triggered a cascade of severe allergic reactions.

Within three days, Chuenlosang’s condition took a dramatic turn for the worse. She developed chest tightness, blurred vision, rashes, a swollen mouth, and struggled to walk. Despite these alarming symptoms, doctors administered another dose of Ceftriaxone and diagnosed her with chickenpox—a misdiagnosis that led to further complications.

Her symptoms rapidly escalated. Her rash intensified, and she lost sight in her left eye. Chuenlosang was eventually admitted to the ICU, where, shockingly, she was given yet another dose of the same antibiotic. "My right eye became blurry and numb. I felt dizzy and was in the ICU for seven days," she explained.

After being transferred to another hospital, she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a rare and life-threatening condition typically caused by severe reactions to medications. SJS causes painful rashes that can result in the peeling and death of the top layer of the skin, leaving patients vulnerable to infections and long-term damage.

Now bedridden, Chuenlosang’s once vibrant career in IT and online modeling has been tragically derailed. "This condition has shattered my dreams. It’s destroyed the life I had before," she lamented. Her body is riddled with wounds, and her neck remains bandaged to absorb the blood and pus seeping from her rashes.

The model has also been forced to cut her long hair to allow the rashes on her scalp to heal. With blindness in one eye and severe damage to her skin, she is currently seeking an ophthalmologist to help restore her vision.

As the severity of her case came to light, public health authorities in Thailand launched an investigation into the treatment provided. Thanakrit Jitareerat, Thailand’s vice-minister for public health, stated that the government is probing whether the hospital's handling of Chuenlosang's case adhered to proper medical practices.