Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a systemic (affecting the whole body) allergic reaction of the skin and the mucus membranes. More than half the cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome are due to an allergic reaction to medication. Stevens Johnson syndrome affects patients of all ages and ethnicities.

Symptoms and Complications

The syndrome often begins like the flu or a cold. The patient starts out with the following symptoms, which usually occur within three weeks of taking the precipitating drug:

• Cough
• Headache
• Body aches
• Fever
• Sore throat

Instead of disappearing in the usual way, however, the symptoms are soon followed by a skin rash that is red to purple, and often assumes the shape of a target. As the rash spreads, the spots merge. They become raised and blister. The skin eventually sheds and is easily peeled off. The face and tongue swell. These conditions can last from a day to a couple of weeks, and can be extremely painful.

The mucous membranes also become involved. The membranes of the mouth, nose, eye and genital areas might develop blisters. If the mucous membranes of the lungs and digestive tract are involved, the patient can find it hard to breathe and may develop diarrhea.

Treatment and Diagnosis

The disease is considered rare and in the United States occurs in 1 of 200,000 patients. When it does occur, the sooner the condition is diagnosed the better, as treatment can begin sooner and offer the patient a better prognosis.

Treatment is similar to the way burn patients are treated. The most important objective of patient care for SJS is that it be diagnosed early so proper care can begin. It is essential that the drug responsible for causing the syndrome be stopped immediately. The earlier the drug is stopped, the better the prognosis.

Other treatment modalities include:

• Fluid replacement
• Electrolyte stabilization
• Treat skin lesions as if they are burns
• Special attention should be given to how well the patient can breathe and clearing the airway
• Mouthwashes can be used to manage lesions in the mouth
• Topical anesthetics are used to reduce pain
• Areas where the skin has peeled away should be covered with compresses of saline or other suitable solutions
• Check and treat the patient if necessary for tetanus
• Other diseases and infections that have developed as a result of SJS need to be diagnosed and treated

Medications Linked to SJS

Sulfa antibiotics are the medications that have been linked to SJS most often. In addition, other medications linked to the syndrome include:

• Other antibiotics
• Some over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs
• Anticonvulsant medications
• Barbiturates
• Allopurinol (for treating excess uric acid in the blood plasma, a common cause of gout)

In addition to the above classifications of medication, specific drugs that have been associated with the development Stevens Johnson Syndrome include:

• Dilantin
• Advil
• Bactrim
• Lamictal
• Celebrex
• Tegretol
• Chantix
• Lamotrigine
• Levaquin
• Trileptal
• Zithromax
• Zoloft

Contact a Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawyer

If you have taken any of these medications and have been diagnosed with SJS, you should contact a Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorney. You might be eligible for compensation for the pain, suffering and expense you have endured with this painful, life-threatening disorder. To learn more about your case, please contact Flood Law Group today.