Woman, 31, was left 'burning from the inside out' in 17-day coma after taking ibuprofen for period pains

aqueline Gmack, from Papanduva in Brazil , took the over-the-counter tablets in 2011 to help relieve her period cramps. Within just 48 hours, the now 31-year-old suffered a mild itch in her eye and blood blisters in her mouth

A woman from Papanduva, Brazil, has recounted a harrowing experience where she claims to have been placed in a 17-day coma due to a rare reaction to ibuprofen that caused her to 'burn from the inside out'.

Jaqueline Gmack, now 31, took the over-the-counter tablets in 2011 to alleviate her period cramps. Within just 48 hours, she suffered a mild itch in her eye and blood blisters in her mouth.

After rushing to hospital, her symptoms rapidly escalated and she developed blisters across her face which left her unable to see properly. Medics revealed she was suffering from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and placed her in an induced coma

Upon seeking medical attention, her condition rapidly deteriorated as she developed blisters across her face, impairing her vision significantly. Medical professionals diagnosed her with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and placed her in an induced coma.

SJS is a rare skin condition where the immune system overreacts to a trigger, such as medication, attacking healthy skin, mucous membranes, eyes, and genitals.

The rare skin condition causes the immune system to overreact to a trigger, such as a drug, and attack healthy skin, mucous, the eyes and genitals. Even today, however, Ms Gmack's vision has only restored to around 40 per cent of what it was despite more than a dozen surgeries

Despite undergoing over a dozen surgeries, Ms. Gmack's vision has only partially recovered, currently standing at around 40% of what it was before the incident. Further tests are needed to ascertain if the reaction has led to permanent damage.

Recounting her awakening from the coma, Ms. Gmack described her shock, saying, 'It was like I'd been burned from the inside out.'

Ms Gmack is not believed to have suffered a reaction from ibuprofen before or have any underlying health conditions. SJS often begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a red or purple rash on the skin that spreads and forms blisters

Following the ordeal, she underwent extensive treatment including ophthalmologist procedures such as cornea, stem cell, and amniotic membrane transplants to salvage her vision.

While her eye health is monitored with fortnightly check-ups, Ms. Gmack continues to cope with the reality that her vision will never fully return. She reflects on her journey as a testament to her resilience, stating, 'I wish I could find a cure to see again. But I feel like a warrior.'

Hospital treatment usually involves fluids to prevent dehydration, creams and dressings to moisturise the skin, strong painkillers to ease discomfort and medicines to control inflammation and prevent infection

Ms Gmack has undergone 24 operations to help her vision including a cornea transplant, stem cell transplant and amniotic membrane transplant ¿ where a sheet of amniotic membrane is secured over the surface of the eye to the eyelid