Although a Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a very rare diagnosis, it can be an extremely painful experience with long term consequences for those suffering from this allergic skin reaction allegedly caused by the popular Pfizer Inc. antibiotic.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome ?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (or SJS) is a skin reaction that is set off when a patient takes a pharmaceutical drug and develops an extreme allergic reaction to it that manifests as an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the body attacks its own cells. In the case of SJS, blisters and SJS rashes appear on a person’s skin, mucous membranes, and even the lining of some organs. Some symptoms that may indicate a SJS reaction include:

• Painful blistering on skin and mucous membranes
• Flu-like symptoms and high fever
• Sloughing off of skin
• Ocular reactions, including severe conjunctivitis, iritis, palpebral edema, conjunctival and corneal blisters and erosions, and corneal perforation

In some cases, this reaction to several types of over-the-counter and prescription medications requires months of hospitalization to treat the skin condition, and in some extreme cases a patient may die from the SJS reaction.

History of Zithromax SJS and Possible Litigation

As previously stated, SJS can be set off by many different types of drugs, but Zithromax (or azithromycin) has allegedly been reported to have a high incidence rate of Stevens Johnson Syndrome cases. Patients who have survived a bout of Zithromax SJS after taking the antibiotic have filed Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuits against Pfizer, seeking compensation for pain, suffering, and medical expenses incurred as a result of the rare skin disease.

The number of Zithromax SJS lawsuits has increased over the years, after it was discovered that Pfizer may have minimized the potential risk of Zithromax SJS on their Zmax and Z-pak product packaging advertising. Although the drug’s label did warn consumers of the possibility of contracting Zithromax SJS, the FDA found that this warning was not sufficient.

According to an FDA notice to Pfizer sent in June 2012, the agency pointed out that Zithromax’s advertising brochure downplayed the possibility of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and also failed to inform consumers that an SJS reaction can reoccur in patients even after they have discontinued the antibiotic medication.

Additionally, SJS can evolve to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (or TEN) if the Zithromax reaction is severe enough or if it is not caught early enough. Stevens Johnson Syndrome can cover up to 30 percent of the body with SJS rashes and blisters. When more than 30 percent of the skin is covered in blister, rashes, and lesions, the patient is rediagnosed with TEN. Although SJS and TEN are technically the same disease, TEN is considered the deadlier of the two, as SJS patients have a 5 to 15 percent chance of mortality and TEN patients suffer a 30 to 40 percent chance of dying due to their Zithromax allergic skin reaction.

In addition to patients filing Zithromax lawsuits for the personal injuries they incurred, family members may also file a Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit on behalf of their deceased loved ones who allegedly died from their Zithromax SJS or TEN condition, seeking compensation from Pfizer for their loss.